New Seminole Heights Market Set to Open on Florida Avenue

There are few things Michelle Brooks has to leave Seminole Heights for and now she is bringing those things to the neighborhood she has called home for the past five years.

Brooks, a former district manager of Starbucks, is relishing the opportunity to open Brooksie's Market, a version of her favorite markets complete with straw bags, scarves, jewelry, fresh herbs and spices, bath salts and potpourris.

"It's going to be a combination of things that I really like in my life," Brooks said. "Very seldom do I leave the neighborhood, but when I do it's for very specific things and now I want to bring them here. It's going to be great because my business will be right across the street from my home."

The location at 5805 North Florida Avenue is a bungalow style home and the former home of . It may not seem like the ideal spot for a market, but to Brooks, her new storefront is exactly what she wanted.

"I like the old house and the fact that I will be able to grow herbs and flowers for the next season right out in the yard," Brooks said. "It was really important to me to stay in the neighborhood and this location also allowed me to do that. I didn't want to be in a strip mall or a newly built place."

The chance at entrepreneurship and becoming a part of the ongoing growth around Seminole Heights is something the 50-year old Brooks is also proud to be a part of.

"I love this neighborhood because of how supportive they are of the businesses around their community," Brooks said. "My current vendors aren't local providers but I'm hoping once I'm open that more local people will want to get their products into the market. I've already had help from people around here with moving furniture and getting the place together."

Brooks is currently in the process of moving in the store's furniture and staging it. Her plan is to be open by Aug. 1. A website is currently under construction.

For more information, e-mail Michelle Brooks at brooksmsm@aol.com.