An Oak Park Arts District studio that focuses on children’s programming is set to relocate to the Madison Street corridor.
Magical Minds Studio will move to 110 Madison St. this spring. Owner Hajj Herbert said they negotiated the purchase of three storefronts on Madison Street, totaling 2,400 square feet.
“We knew we wanted to buy something because we were expanding and we couldn’t serve any more students if we didn’t find more space,” Herbert said.
The business, which offers preschool, after-school and camp programs that emphasize the Reggio Emilia philosophy of teacher as facilitator, opened at 343 Harrison St. in October 2008.
Herbert, a sculpture major in college, enjoyed having her son’s playmates over to make artistic messes in her backyard; after a friend mentioned she should check out the space on Harrison Street, she pursued the idea of an art studio.
As the studio grew and they incorporated after-school programming two years ago, Herbert said the eventual need for more space became apparent. The studio moved to a temporary space at 207 Harrison St. at the end of January, after the building housing 343 was sold.
The move to Madison Street allows for an expansion of programs, and for multiple programs to be run at once, Herbert said. She’s excited to offer a maker space, an area focusing on robotics and a 3D printer, in addition to dedicated space for sewing and other activities. A backyard area will allow for gardening.
There are two separate garage spaces, one of which will become a ceramics studio after some insulating and converting is completed, Herbert said. The use for the other garage space is still being decided; they’re toying with the idea of an artist-in-residence space, she said.
“I’m hoping to do more for adults, as well,” Herbert said. A long-term goal: partnering with other organizations to offer scholarships to artists from the Austin neighborhood.
Laura Williams, an after-school and ceramics teacher at the studio, looks forward to the studio’s ability to run more than one program at a time.
“The move is going to give us a lot more space,” Williams said.
Herbert hopes to move to the newly renovated space in April. The businesses that previously occupied the three storefronts moved into spaces next door, she said.
“It’s getting completely gutted right now,” featuring new plumbing and electrical, she said.
Herbert said she’s sad to leave the arts district, but added that she was priced out of the area. The move puts Magical Minds in a more central location for students on the north side of the village, she said, and she hopes to bring a unique flavor to that block of Madison Street.
“We kind of thought, we’ll try to change the vibe over there on Madison,” Herbert said.
Viktor Schrader, economic development manager for the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, said Herbert will bring energy and a new customer base to that area of town.
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“We’ve been really focused on new investment, new businesses to properties east of Ridgeland,” Schrader said. “We feel like this is a real win. … That space allows her to realize her long-term vision for the business.”
Laura Maychruk, owner of The Buzz Cafe and president of the Oak Park Arts District board, said she’s disappointed Magical Minds is leaving the neighborhood, but she wishes Herbert the best.
“Maybe she’ll be so successful she’ll open a second location on Harrison,” Maychruk said.
For more information, visit www.magicalmindsstudio.com.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.