Upcycle Parts Shop, the non-profit creative reuse center at 6419 St. Clair Ave. in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood, has spent the past decade quietly saving materials from becoming landfill fodder. At the same time, the staff encourages others to bring out their artistic sides and create unique treasures from the materials that come through the shop.
Paired together, the efforts have led Upcycle to emerge in its 10th year as part thrift store, part art supply shop, part community building space, and part neighborhood revitalization effort.
Upcycle Parts got its start in 2014 when founder and former executive director Nicole McGee—a self-employed reuse artist—was part of a St. Clair Superior Development Corporation team that developed the revitalization strategy called Upcycle St. Clair. The initiative earned a $375,000 grant in 2013 from ArtPlace America and Upcycle Parts Shop was born. The startup quickly became a destination for creative reuse.
McGee brought on co-founder, professional organizer, and arts educator Devon Fegen-Herdman to help launch the project's keystone component: A community-based storefront called Upcycle Parts Shop. In 2015 McGee and Fegen-Herdman completed the inaugural SEA Change social enterprise training program and won a third place award for their vision.
Upcycle Parts Shop after five years officially became a 501(c)3 in 2019 as a social enterprise with a sustainability-minded triple bottom line mission: Good for the planet, good for the community, and good for the economy.
“When I started Upcycle Parts Shop, I knew how much creative and economic potential there was in reuse and secondhand materials and I knew that community building could happen around it,” McGee recalls. “I didn’t know how magical it would feel and how many relationships would develop.”
Today, even with Upcycle’s national partners and widespread recognition, McGee credits the neighborhood leaders who supported her original idea.
“It continues to be neighbors in St. Clair Superior and everyday Clevelanders utilizing the shop as a creative resource that feels most personally gratifying to me,” she says.
Changing leadership
The shop has grown over the past 10 years, both in services and the variety of offerings—from hands-on educational programs in the classroom, to open studio hours at the Upcycle Craft Café, to private crafting events. The non-profit also often has tables or booths at local events and is often asked to host crafting and team-building activities for businesses.
McGee stepped down as executive director in early 2024 and former programs director Kaliya Smith stepped into the role.
“Upcycle Parts Shop holds a special place in the heart of the St. Clair-Superior community,” Smith says. “I am honored to be a part of an organization that embodies creativity, sustainability, and community engagement.”
Smith stresses that the shop’s mission to inspire creativity through reuse continues to resonate with supporters and volunteers. She says that influence is motivation to embark on new programs and initiatives in Upcycle’s second decade.
“I am particularly excited about the big changes and news we have in store as we look forward to the next decade,” she says. “Together, we are forging ahead with innovative programs, expanded initiatives, and impactful collaborations that will further enrich our community.”
Expanding
With the growing popularity of the programs and classes, last year McGee and Smith realized it was time to embark on an expansion. The pair were able to secure the mostly-empty storefront next door on St. Clair Avenue.
The original Upcycle Parts Shop was a small, sometimes cramped space—only 900 square feet. When the expansion plans began, the staff could finally spread out in the former hardware store, which features built-in shelving and a customer service counter.
The space now serves as the Creative Café, where crafting tables filling the room and supplies lining shelves on the wall. The new space adds 2,268 square feet—more than tripling the entire shop. The former hardware shop now serves as a shopping for used art supplies.
Smith says the new space not only allows customers and staff to spread out, it also makes the shop more accessible. Previously, much of the programming was offered on the third floor of the historic building without an elevator. Now, everything is offered on the ground level.
Programs are offered several times a week to offer the opportunity to come together to create art from waste.
“This new space gives us the opportunity to host more internal programming open to the public,” explains Smith. “Neighbors, friends, and family can join us in our craft cafe Thursdays through Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to create projects, indulge in pay-what-you-can series, and much more!”
Raquel, a regular Upcycle customer, says she’s impressed with the makeover.
“The new space is huge and is such a better space,” she gushes. “I love shopping here because it’s affordable. It’s my favorite place. They also play the best music ever!”
Scraps and publicity accepted
True to its mission, Upcycle Parts Shop saves everything it can from going into landfills. The shop accepts donations of gently used art supplies and sells them to the community at deep discounts.
Throughout its existence, the shop has accepted 54 tons of materials for reuse—a number the staff members playfully equate to “a stampede of 19 rhinos.”
Materials found in the shop may include partial skeins of yarn, scraps of fabric, opened bottles of paint, scrapbooking supplies, partial sheets of stickers, buttons, boxes of stationery, beads, drawing supplies, jewelry, and so much more.
In July—exactly 10 years to the week after its founding—Upcycle Parts Shop was featured nationally on the Kelly Clarkson Show in the “Good Neighbor” segment. WKYC Channel 3, nominated Upcycle for a Clarkson’s Good Neighbor Award, which could bring $100,000.
WKYC news anchor Danita Harris appeared with McGee and Smith in July to talk about creating art from waste and American Greetings subsequently awarded Upcycle a $10,000 grant on the show.
Upcycle staff members are back in New York this week, filming a follow-up segment with Clarkson and will find out if they won the grand prize.
To finish its tenth year strong, Upcycle Parts Shop will honor McGee at its Mystic Masquerade fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, 4515 Superior Ave. in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.
There will be music, food, and—as there always is at Upcycle—laughter and crafting. Attendees are encouraged to dress up and enjoy an evening of enchantment. Tickets start at $50 and sponsorships are available.
Upcycle Parts Shop is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Used art supply donations are accepted by appointment.
Maureen Wise has served on the Upcycle Parts Shop board since 2018.