Meet Tyler Hobel: The Student Opening A Store In Strongsville

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Millennials are often maligned as self-absorbed and lazy. Tyler Hobel, soon to be 22, dispels such caricatures by proving that most Millennials do in fact work very hard. Shoppers will soon be able to take stock of the hardworking young man for themselves, when Hobel's Bloom Clothing Company opens at SouthPark Mall.

Hobel, who will graduate from Cleveland State University in the spring, was the winner of the mall's second Battle of the Pop-Up Contest, a competition for local entrepreneurs. The winner receives free retail space in SouthPark Mall, for six months, and free utilities, store fixtures, and a $500 merchandising package. The Bloom Clothing Company will open its shop on November 1, just in time for the holiday rush.

“Being told that I won a spot at SouthPark Mall this holiday season sent a wave of excitement through me. I know that with the help of the SouthPark team, my products and concept will have the opportunity to go national in the near future,” Hobel said.

Before The Store Opens

The Bloom Clothing Company — Hobel's company — was the brainchild of rush-hour and long commutes. Hobel was working two jobs, 60-plus hours a week, and driving to the west side of Cleveland from Ashtabula for work.

One of his gigs was an unpaid internship. His other job made it possible to survive. Hobel wanted to thrive. While commuting to one of his jobs, he had an idea.

"I knew some people in the clothing industry and I wanted to do something for myself," he told Patch. "But I've never done anything super simple."

Hobel hatched the idea for the Bloom Clothing Company. In a 48-hour span (starting in his stranded car during said rush-hour), he created a business concept, got a vendor's license, completed a bevy of paperwork, became a legal business in Ohio, and, for kicks, decided to donate a portion of his profits to staving off honeybee colony collapse and saving the at-risk insects.

Why bees? Simple, Hobel has loved insects since he was a kid and he recently learned about the epidemic of honeybee collapse (when a colony of bees suddenly fails and all the insects die). Nearly 33 percent of American food owes its existence to honeybees.

About one year ago, the Bloom Clothing Company officially launched. Hobel's brand now makes organically crafted, sweatshop-free tees and sweatshirts, using Akron-based manufacturers. The brand also offers caps and beanies, in a selection of colors and styles. Bloom also sells locally-crafted bath and body lines, bath bombs, and lotions.

About 12 percent of all of Hobel's profits go to the Honeybee Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to save the declining honeybee population.

"One of my phrases is high-quality clothing for a higher-quality cause," Hobel said. Just a reminder: Tyler Hobel doesn't turn 22 until October 11.

For their part, the mall is elated to welcome Bloom to its collection of vendors.

“We’re excited for Bloom Clothing to open to customers,” said Ed Jaroszewicz, marketing director for SouthPark Mall. “Tyler’s personal drive, high-quality clothing, and commitment to give back to the community with his Honeybee initiative are just what our conscientious shoppers are looking for from our local retailer mix. We’re really looking forward to his grand opening in November and welcoming him to SouthPark for the upcoming holiday season.”

He added that Hobel will get to experience the holiday rush during his tenure at the mall. "It could really build his brand," Jaroszewicz told Patch in a phone interview.

Bloom Clothing will be located in the Lower Level at North Main near Cinemark Court. The store opens November 1, 2018.

The first Battle of the Pop-Up winner was Stitch N Switch, which received four free months of mall space.

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Photo from Tyler Hobel