Seeking ideas: Quonset Hut sets grand opening for community space in Canton

• Quonset Hut, 3775 Cleveland Ave. NW, is holding a grand opening event 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday next door at its new community event space.
• The new space will be used for live music, art shows, pop-up clothing and jewelry stores, record swaps, community events and other activities.
• Quonset Hut is seeking community input on other potential uses for the multi-purpose space.

CANTON − For decades, Quonset Hut was a haven for music lovers − vinyl records, 8-tracks, cassette tapes, compact discs.

Opening in 1969, it also served as a hippie boutique specializing in jewelry, clothing and smoker's needs, as well as once being the only local supplier of Levi's jeans. And despite different locations, changing trends and shifts in music technology, Quonset Hut has survived through adaptation, variety and creativity.

Moving in 2019 from the 3200 block of Cleveland Avenue NW to the 3700 block of the same street, Quonset Hut maintains ties to its history with a sizeable and curated vinyl record collection and a smoke shop for ages 21 and older featuring hookah, e-cigarettes, vaporizers and other items.

However, it also offers disc golf, pickleball and dart equipment; jewelry made of sterling silver, copper, brass and semi-precious stones; candles and incense; teas, herbs and spices; skateboards; tied-dyed shirts and other clothing; adult toys for ages 18 and older; metaphysical items such as essential oils and crystals; and other unique and assorted gifts.

Quonset Hut's evolution is continuing with a grand opening event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to unveil its new, multi-purpose community event space next to the store at 3775 Cleveland Ave. NW at the corner of 38th Street NW. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for noon.

Parking will be at Quonset Hut with overflow spaces at 3757 Cleveland Ave. NW.

More: Black Friday retro style: Quonset Hut offers vinyl treasures on Record Store Day

More: Eclectic Quonset Hut finally has new home

Saturday's event is free and open to the public. Appetizer-style food will be provided by OG Street Eatz . Acoustic music will be performed by Canton area indie musician Andy Bors .

Reservations are suggested and can be made at https://www.eventbrite.com/ by searching for Quonset Hut in Canton.

Quonset Hut is seeking ideas for its new community space

Standing in the renovated space, Matt Hisrich, co-owner of Quonset Hut with his wife, Heidi Hisrich, and Robin Kratzer, said he envisions it as a blank canvas with multiple possibilities, including record swaps, a practice area for disc golf, pop-up jewelry and clothing stores, live music, community functions and art shows.

The space also can be rented for birthday parties, baby showers and other private events. "Dungeons and Dragons" board game nights are another idea, said Megan Traynor, Quonset Hut's store manager. A pop-up store specifically for rock concert and music-related T-shirts also would be fun, Hisrich said.

Quonset Hut plans to keep the one-story, 1,700-square-foot space for mixed uses and activities instead of a singular or permanent use, Hisrich said.

"We're really open to ideas," he said of public input. "That is a big part of what Quonset Hut does.

"We just keep hearing that there's a need for a space like this. And we don't want to shut the door on any particular possibilities."

Quonset Hut carries an extensive line of disc golf, pickleball and dart equipment and supplies. Uses for those sports at the new space are being considered, he said.

"I think there's a lot of potential to serve those communities," Hisrich said. "We want the space to be used."

Traynor added: "It sat too long without a purpose."

Guest vendors and door prizes featured at grand opening

Also at the grand opening, Cyrus Custom Framing & Art Gallery will have an oversized picture frame for selfies.

Guest vendor booths will include Clean Remedies, Green Compassion Network, Grooming by Heidi, Hartman Custom Construction, HOFC Pickleball Club, Sacra Natura, Soulful Sounds Vibrational Sound Therapy, Stark County Disc Golf Association, Stark County Humane Society, Studio 7 Photography, Tor's Prints and Visit Canton.

Door prizes also will be given out.

"We're super pumped," Traynor said.

Quonset Hut mementoes to be displayed

The vacant space, which formerly housed a carryout eatery, has been redone with new flooring, freshly painted walls, new heating, air conditioning and ventilation duct work and other improvements. Helping fund the work was a grant from Visit Canton , the Stark County Convention and Visitors' Bureau.

Barren walls will be adorned with framed mementoes of Quonset's past, such as photos and old newspaper advertisements and promotions. Christian Harwell of Cyrus Custom Framing & Art Gallery is assisting with that effort, Hisrich said.

Murals and artwork are other possibilities for the walls in the future, he said.

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com .

On Twitter @ebalintREP