STEM Handmade Soaps Opening in Birdtown

STEM Handmade Soaps, a small soap company currently based out of the basement of a Lake Avenue home, is opening up shop in the historic Birdtown neighborhood.

Steven Meka, who co-owns the business with his partner David Willett, said he picked the standalone location precisely because of its small size. 

“It’s in Birdtown, and there are a lot of cool things happening in Birdtown right now,” he said. “I think this will be a good addition.”

The owners of STEM Handmade Soap purchased the property for $51,000 from the now-closed mental health services provider Bridgeway, first reported by LoveLakewood.com.

The property at 12405 Madison Avenue has been vacant for about a year.

The company boasts that the artisian soaps are hand-crafted, made with all natural ingredients. Among the products sold are bar soap, foaming liquid hand soap, lip balms, body soap and pet and human shampoo.

Meka sells his products in the Cleveland area — at Room Service, LEAF markets and “pop-up” shops — but most of his business is online.

Meka said he’s looking forward to having a brick-and-mortar establishment. And, he points out, the price was right. 

A sign is posted in the storefront window, signaling that STEM Handmade Soaps is coming soon. Meka said he expects the business to be up-and-running by July 4.

But the store won’t be a 9-to-5 retail shop — at least not right away.

Instead, STEM Handmade Soaps will keep some retail hours on the weekends.

For more information, visit the company’s website.