Wexner Heritage Village Provides Niche Shopping at The Marketplace

November 7, 2006     

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Let’s go shopping! … at the nursing home?

Most in the community know that Wexner Heritage House provides high quality skilled nursing care, but many are not aware that it is also home to niche shopping for the Jewish and greater community. The Marketplace, in the main lobby of Wexner Heritage House, 1151 College Ave., offers a kosher snack shop and gift store that is open to the public weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Marketplace was built with donations from the Auxiliary of Wexner Heritage House. It combines a place for staff and guests to pick up lunch or snacks with a gift store for residents and visitors. The volunteer group uses proceeds from the gift shop to pay for parties and extra amenities for residents. An average shopper can find jewelry, greeting cards and clothing, while items geared toward residents, such as slippers and robes, are also offered.

“Preparing for the holiday gift-giving season, we partnered with some great companies to add new children’s items. Now our shoppers can special order books and educational games from Books are Fun, as well as find Webkinzs. The Webkinzs are a great new concept where a child can get a stuffed animal friend that comes with a secret code for their computer. Once they go online to the Webkinz site, they have access to a virtual room for their toy pet, games, trivia and kid-friendly chat rooms,” said Cynthia Huhn, director of activities and volunteer services.

Adults can also find delights at the Marketplace where Wexner Heritage House’s kosher bakery takes orders for challah, pies, cakes and other baked goods.

“For the holiday season, we’ll be selling kosher pies for $10 that individuals can order for their holiday dinners or parties, and simply take home and enjoy,” said Sam Lovely, food production manager.

“Our Marketplace is a great benefit for staff, residents and visitors. At the same time, anyone from the community can come in, make great purchases and know that some of the money they spend is going to enrich the lives of those we serve,” said Huhn.

Wexner Heritage Village is a not-for-profit provider of health, housing, social and spiritual services in the central Ohio community, primarily serving older adults and persons with disabilities. Its mission, guided by Jewish values and traditions, is to assist those it serves in pursuing their fullest human potential. The campus serves the entire community and includes: Wexner Heritage House, a 200-bed nursing facility, Heritage Tower and Bexley Heritage Apartments, HUD-sponsored independent living, Creekside at the Village, premier independent apartments, Victor Weinstein Shalom House and Shalom House South, two MRDD group homes, Village Shalom Apartments, Heritage at Home, and the Larry & Leonore Zusman Jewish Community Hospice.