Women of The Well
In spite of trying times, women-owned businesses are thriving. In fact, over the past few decades, the number of female entrepreneurs has increased by over 114 %.
Joining the movement is Opelika's newest tearoom, eatery, and mercantile. Located on the corner of Avenue A and Ninth Street, The Well houses over a dozen different women-owned businesses from around the Auburn-Opelika area. Items range from vintage clothing to baked goods, adaptogen lattes, jewelry, artwork, handbags and more.
The name was inspired by the Biblical story of the Samaritan woman, who was ousted by society for her lowly status. Allison Kovak knew that she wanted to provide women who had faced similar rejection with a place to collaborate and grow. Completing the team of four are Katie Klein, Rachel Christian and Ashley Kickliter.
"We wanted to create a space where everyone, no matter their background, or where they came from, felt welcome...to find their little corner, per say." (Katie Klein)
The main level is bright and open, with accents of pompous grass and botanicals scattered throughout. A 180-year-old Samaritan marital bed situates itself near the back staircase. Upon entering, customers can head to the front counter to browse through the menu, featuring a selection of dessert teas, adaptogen lattes, collagen slushes and more.
With a shared interest in naturopathic health and essential oils, Kovak and Christian worked together to curate the menu. Kovak's parents also helped in creating the wildly popular keto-friendly cheddar biscuits.
A refrigerator near the back bar features fresh charcuterie boards from The Grazer Co. and salads from The Cup & Saucer, two women-owned restaurants in Auburn. Also on display are several different flavors of homemade mochi donuts and muffins.
What started as a side business for Rebecca Shepherd quickly grew into a passion.
“I decided if I’m going to come up with something, I wanted something healthy…something that will be able to cater to my friends as well in the church,” Shepherd said.
She utilizes Asian-inspired ingredients, including sweetened rice powder and coconut milk, in her naturally gluten-free donuts and muffins. Shepherd said she plans on selling more of her baked goods during the Columbus Farmers Market on May 1.
As you turn the corner to head downstairs, you'll notice a series of woodcut botanical prints lining the far right brick wall. Local artist and mother of two, Paige Dirksen, has been working on her series of nature-inspired prints for three years now. It wasn't until quarantine that she decided to publish a website to showcase and sell her artwork to a wider audience.
Some of her larger prints are featured around the first floor, as well as in the black-and-white gallery room downstairs.
"I got really excited to be able to see my artwork all in one room," Dirksen said. "It's kind of a nice treat for an artist."
Some of her pieces can also be found at the Local Market inside J&M Bookstore downtown Auburn, as well as The Yoga Room at Midtown. In the coming months, Dirksen plans on collaborating with Griff Goods, a clothing store located in downtown Opelika, for a special exhibit.
"To me, art has always been about community," Dirksen said. "I love community arts. It's one of my passions. So, I just love [Allison's] vision about creating space for that collaboration and for that support for one another."
All the rooms downstairs are themed to provide customers with a unique experience as they walk through. The Garden Room features amber velvet cushions and swinging hammocks for seating, as well as dried branches gathered from outside to resemble trees. Twinkle lights masked behind sheets of black velvet transform the ceiling into a celestial night sky.
"Back to Eden, the stars are like the promises of God," Christian said. "And the trees are supposed to represent growth and seasons in our life."
Next door, The Play Room will transport you back in time to the Victorian Era with regal furniture and feathers galore. Secondhand vintage clothing on the far left wall comes from four different women's closets and is available to purchase or rent for photoshoots.
Jasmine Oliver, another local artist featured downstairs, kicked off her business model several years ago after attending some estate sales. Today, she custom designs hand bags out of old magazine ads, as well as a few one-of-a-kind furniture items like this 1970s China vintage 35 mm slide lamp.
"I just like to find history and kind of bring them into being able to be used again," Oliver said.
More of her vintage finds are located inside The Irish Bred Pub on South Railroad Avenue. But you can also browse through her collection by visiting her Etsy page.
“They’ve got a great initiative to help people get some more exposure that ordinarily we just wouldn’t have. Online is great, but it’s flooded. And it’s hard to be seen when you’re just in a big sea. So, it’s nice to be in a small place with an actual clientele of people." (Jasmine Oliver)
Last but not least, nestled in the far back corner downstairs is the Prayer and Meditation Room. The story behind the room is best described as one of spiritual transformation. “It used to be an old jail cell,” Christian explained. “It actually held people as they were being put to the gallows.”
Today, the all-white room serves as a quiet sanctuary, where guests can escape the noise, sip on a cup of tea, and perhaps immerse themselves in the Word for a while.
Individual rooms in The Well can be reserved for workshops, small groups and other private events. But for larger events, the entire space can also be rented out at $150 an hour.
The number of female vendors within the space is by no means static. New artists and entrepreneurs are being welcomed inside The Well every week with more expected to come.
Walk-in hours for The Well are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, while reservations can be made anytime between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
"I love learning from other people, and I think that's what's pretty cool about this area. Women are willing to share... to support one another and to help each other thrive. I'm appreciative of Allison for making that come to life." (Paige Dirksen)
