At Lark & Vines, owner Leslie Choma has made it her mission to source uncommon goods from across the globe
By Patricia Nugent
For anyone who likes to think global and act local, shop owner Leslie Choma opened Lark & Vines last year to showcase an oh-so-darling destination for curated home goods, bags, jewelry and eclectic giftables.
“Everything here is either from women-owned businesses and handmade by artists or fair trade-certified companies from all over the world,” she says. “After spending a career in retail, I figured the West Side could benefit from a shop with unique items.”
Even the name of her shop is rife with intention.
“The lark is the first bird of the morning, so it’s meaningful for me to create my own new beginning,” she explains. “And the vines symbolize strength. I have two plants up on a shelf here that are from vine cuttings from plants of my mother and grandmother. They were strong women who always encouraged me to achieve what I wanted, even if it was hard.”
Gourmet Food & Drink
We all have that bougee friend who has everything. But at Lark & Vines, you’ll discover adorable finds they couldn’t possibly already own. Take for instance the distinctive charcuterie boards, table ware, wine decanters, towels and serving ware. And don’t miss the paper mats for wine tastings or beer flights that allow each person to rate several wines.
Another mega-seller is the Once Again Home kitchen towels collection. Crafted from recycled plastic bottles, these mighty quick-dry towels are super absorbent and kill 98 percent of germs. “They come in a variety of cheery colors and patterns,” she says. “People buy one, and then once they see how they work, come back and buy more for their friends. Great for the environment, after adding them to your kitchen cleaning, you literally do not use paper towels anymore.”
“Also trending are the Camp Craft Cocktails infusion jar kits,” she says. “Loaded with botanicals and dried fruit, you just pour in your spirit of choice—vodka, gin, tequila, rum or hot water—and let it sit in the fridge for two days, then you have a scrumptious start to craft cocktails. The most popular flavor is Hibiscus Ginger Lemon.”
For locavores, Leslie has put together an impressive display of pillows, glassware, coasters, stickers, towels and mugs celebrating West Side city names and zip codes, as well as cutting boards shaped like Ohio.
“We offer lots of garden décor, too” she says. “People love our felt birdhouses.”
The Backstory
Whatever lovingly curated item tickles your fancy, you can count on Leslie to tell you the story behind it. She shares her infectious enthusiasm for all things precious.
“We love helping people find the perfect hostess gift or home goods product,” she says. “For instance, as featured on the Today Show and O Magazine, ladies love the super stylish and eco-friendly totes, pouches, travel bags and backpacks from Maika, which feature stunning hand-painted fabrics.”
There isn’t enough room on this page to write about all the incredibly cool things you’ll find here, but one last beauty begs mention. The metal magnetic Everyday Wreath from Roeda is charming by itself, and you can trick it out for the seasons with colorful magnetic add-ons like pumpkins, flowers and beach shells that can also hold photos.
Lark & Vines is located at 21964 Lorain Road, near the intersection of West 220th and Lorain Road, in Fairview Park. Visit LarkandVines.com for more information.