Small Business Spotlight: Jeromeo in the Loop

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Scott JohnsonLooking for a great local massage therapist? How about high-quality all natural perfumes and body care products? Check out Jeromeo in the Loop at 210 N 2nd Street for these products, services and even more – jewelry, antiques and many more gift ideas. We talked to owner, Scott Johnson, about the history of his business, relocating to and valuing the North Loop and the importance of slowing down for better health.  Stop by – book a massage, get a free sample of handmade perfume and meet this good community member. 

Q:  Jeromeo in the Loop is a unique mix of wellness, retail, and art - how did you land on that concept? 

A:  Jeromeo and PureomEO have been a two-decade evolution of ideas. At first, we opened the shop as a jewelry, essential oil, imported antique, and gift shop on Nicollet Mall. I later expanded into making all-natural perfumes and body products from my collection of high-quality essential oils. This became PureomEO. As a massage therapist for over 25 years, I had the idea of opening a wellness center as part of Jeromeo for a long time. After 10 years of being on Nicollet Mall, we moved into a larger space in the North Loop. This allowed me to expand Jeromeo and PureomEO by combining massage and wellness with retail to form a very unique shopping experience.

Q:  What drew you to the North Loop for your business location? 

A:  At the time, there were talks about redeveloping Nicollet Mall. With that comes a lot of construction, which can be hard on small businesses in terms of foot traffic. Initially, that is why I began to consider moving my business. After looking at spaces, I found a location in the North Loop with enough space that didn’t require a lot of build-out. I was familiar with the North Loop and wanted to stay downtown. I enjoyed the history and architecture of the warehouse district. Plus, there was a lot of potential and buzz about the growth of the neighborhood. The opportunity was there, and it just seemed like the right time to move. Shortly after the move, projects for Target Field and Whole Foods started. Along with a lot of upscale residential development. Continuing to grow as a business in a growing neighborhood like the North Loop has been very special and helpful in making my business what it is today.

Q:  How do you curate the products and services at Jeromeo?

A:  Whether it’s something antique or new, I’m always looking for unique, handmade, and one-of-a-kind items that have a story. Whether it’s a 200-year-old cabinet, artisan-made jewelry, hand-blended perfume, or locally made pottery. All of our inventory has a story that makes it special. Those stories are continued even after leaving the shop and finding a new home. I love being a part of that story. Being a massage therapist for over 25 years, I’ve learned that everyone’s body is different. That is why our massage services are based on and customized to the needs of the client. Which we do through communication and varying massage techniques, including deep tissue, sports, neuromuscular therapies, Swedish massage, etc.

Q:  What do you think people are most missing when it comes to caring for themselves? 

A:  That question has so many answers, haha. I think the simple things get overlooked when it comes to caring for yourself. Drinking water, going for a walk, or taking a moment to call a friend or family member for a short chat. Those little things make a big impact on caring for ourselves. We are in a time where things move so fast. It seems like it’s always go, go, go. No matter how short, I think allowing ourselves a moment to slow down in whatever way we can is very important to our well-being. This can include a 30-minute massage or treating yourself to something special from our shop.

Q: How does Jeromeo engage with the local North Loop community?

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A:  We often donate massage services, perfume samples, and gift bags for various events in the North Loop. This can include events with the North Loop Neighborhood Association or a booth at a local food and drink pop-up in the neighborhood. I also enjoy stopping in the neighboring businesses on a stroll before work. Whether it’s to shop or just to say hello.

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Q:  What role do you think spaces like Jeromeo play in a neighborhood’s culture?

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A:  I think it’s so important to have and support small businesses in neighborhoods like the North Loop. Whether it’s clothing, retail, coffee shops, book shops, restaurants, etc. Small, unique businesses make our city and neighborhoods vibrant and diverse. There’s a sense of pride when you stroll through a neighborhood and see it bustling with small businesses and members of the community.

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Q:  What’s next for Jeromeo? Any new ideas or expansions in the works? How do we follow your news?

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A:  We are always a work in progress at Jeromeo! At the moment, we are working on carrying a larger selection of jewelry, developing more PureomEO perfumes, while refining our wellness center services and experience. Follow us at our websites - jeromeo.com and pureomeo.com. As far as specials go we always have jeromeo.com/25off1stmassage and right now we have this going on, too: jeromeo.com/bogomassage. And always we have free samples of our handmade all natural perfumes.