acts of beauty with room service
The Van Aken District in Shaker Heights, Ohio is the perfect landing space for you this summer. If you find yourself in the area, be sure to carve out some time to check out Room Service.
Jennie Doran and Andrew Worm have collectively poured their souls into Room Service - a space that serves various purposes - you will find something calling your name. From apothecary to artwork, textiles to eyewear, Room Service has exclusive items that may not be seen anywhere in Cleveland and beyond.
I have had them on my list to profile for Mills Rd. for some time now, and I am honored to have met them in person and toured their impressive space. Below, we chat about what they’ve learned from one another since becoming business partners, how their backgrounds led them to Room Service, and their new business venture.
How did you two meet?
In the shop - how I seem to meet almost everyone. We fell in love wildly while Andrew was in town on a national tour and had two weeks in Cleveland. It was just like that.
As individuals, and as a couple, did you always have your eyes set on entrepreneurial pursuits?
Jennie: My route has always been, circuitous. So in that way, I suppose a draw for self-direction has always been present.
Andrew: My life as an independent artist has always been entrepreneurial, so I suppose I have. I don’t know any other way to live! When we came together, there was immediate energy for creating and presenting our own stories, so yes. It was clear that we would grow business and life in our way, the two combined.
Jennie, could you talk about your background in fashion design, visual display, and art direction?
The marriage of beauty and functionality seems to be a thread that I am drawn to. I think that all of these pursuits speak to that. How can you create the architecture (in fabric, in spaces) that completes the vision? They need to be beautiful, and they also need to work to function. I have always been fascinated by that combination. In that way, my experiences inform each other, I think.
Andrew, could you talk about your experience in filmmaking, theater, and production?
I have been pursuing a life full of art for most of my life. I studied to be an actor and worked mainly in the theatre, performing in operas, Shakespeare, and musicals, including a stint on the national tour of The Lion King as Zazu.
I started to get interested in making films - in front of and behind the camera and added that to my repertoire. I have produced and directed five short films here in Cleveland, three on the screen at the Cleveland International Film Festival (among other festivals). I’m just fascinated with the different ways we can tell stories that are important to us as humans.
“It’s also how we create narratives in the shop space - it’s always an evolution. That attention to the visual experience is a calling card for us.”
Can you tell me about the preparation that went into taking over the business from the original owner in 2013?
I had been steeped in Room Service for years before I chose to buy the business from Danielle. It was the right thing for both of us. So, it didn’t feel like preparation so much as settling into the role.
I had, and still have a business advisor and mentor that has supported me, the vision, and the workings of our businesses from that moment. He saw me succeed before I saw me and has been alongside us since.
Talk about the details that go into selecting brands that fit the store’s taste.
That’s alchemy. Products that fit seamlessly into our vision so, hopefully, both our offerings are made better. But it’s important to note that we are not brand obsessed, or always looking for the hottest new thing. We look for quality, integrity, and vision with our offerings - not trends or hype. It’s always about the story.
What would you say makes Room Service unique compared to other bespoke art décor companies?
I make an effort not to think of ourselves in comparison to others - as that never seems to serve. So I suppose our difference is a story, because it’s our own, as are those connections we make with the humans that come into the shop.
It’s also how we create narratives in the shop space - it’s always an evolution. That attention to the visual experience is a calling card for us.
How do you support local artists in your retail space?
When we find work we connect to, we find a way to talk more about how we can support our retail space and efforts. Is it event possibilities? Is it special launches or art collaborations? We like to think outside of the box when it comes to connecting and working with local creators.
What are some of your personal favorite brands?
I’m fascinated by the humans that make the products in the shop. Ben at Mithras. Sana at Diaspora Co. Spices. Ed and Amy at Ilex Studio. Aish at Brightland. Their commitment and vision are evident in their products and how they run their businesses. They look for partnerships where their products will shine.
But otherwise, my allegiances are quiet. I’m led by my eye and I let it wander. So when a brand speaks to me, I listen. If I have a need, I’ll explore it.
Jennie, what’s one thing you’ve learned about Andrew since becoming business partners?
I’ve learned the power of daydreaming. His mind balances this remarkable mix of story creation and wonders with an ability to execute. It’s his actor sensibility. It’s all questions, mid-thoughts, and considerations - it’s maddening and beautiful. In being with him this way, I’ve learned the power of a partner and what it means to be one.
Andrew, what’s one thing you’ve learned about Jennie since becoming business partners?
Jennie has taught me the importance of each detail combined to create a whole. I am amazed as she turns a product a few inches to the right and - boom, the whole display works! It’s the combination of everything, but each thing has its place. I’ve always worked in grand gestures – Jennie works in detail. Maybe that’s how we work well together.
“Recognize what you know. Cultivate it. Protect your heart and mind in making it come forth.”
Talk about some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in the past nine years that helped pave the way to your current success.
Recognize what you know. Cultivate it. Protect your heart and mind in making it come forth. And then, most importantly, find the ones who know what you don’t and hire them.
How does the company ensure the customer has the same online experience as they would in-store?
A committed mind for storytelling in all its forms. That is true for the shop space as much as for web content. Does this feel like the way we speak with humans? The way you feel when you move through the store? We most assuredly consider the feeling more than we do the sell-through.
It has always been that way, and in finding the most excellent, visionary, and skilled humans on our team we continue to make those experiences translate, on-screen and off.
Any plans on opening more stores in the future?
As Andrew might say, “Yes, and..” We are expanding our offerings in an exciting way, just a few blocks away from our home on the west side. We’ve always thrived on creating memorable spaces for humans to explore - now we are embarking on a whole Room Service ecosystem, combining food and drink, event space, and beautiful and inspiring retail, all in our neighborhood where we live.
This will start with a French-inspired cafe, named The Judith, after Andrew’s mother and unapologetic francophile. We are in construction and are looking at opening in August. On the same property, there is a former industrial building that will house a retail shop; a multi-use event space, perfect for art openings, yoga classes, small celebrations, and community gatherings; and a garden offering, where our love of plants and the natural world can find a fuller expression.
It’s a big vision, filled with opportunities for connection, beauty, and dreams. A place where we want our son to grow up and see the best of what we, as a community, are capable of.
What’s the best thing about being business owners?
Oh, best. Isn't that a slippery word? Things that are the best one day are intense the next. So, maybe that's it. That there are variations and nuance in this experience.
That they can be beautiful and intimate and at the same time feel exposed and so challenging. Variation. Is that an answer? But - creating together. That's probably the best.
