James Marable: Downtown

After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in marketing from the College of Business, James Marable wasted little time before opening Original Thought Required, a men's and women's contemporary streetwear boutique on Main Street. His store's tagline? "OTR: The Heart of the City." Marable on Main has been an inspiration for more than a year, and his love for the city, and Over-the-Rhine in particular, fuels and shapes his business decisions.

Name: James Marable

Age: 28

Job title: Owner of Original Thought Required

City of birth: Dayton

Years in Cincinnati: 10

Neighborhood where you live: Clifton/OTR border

Space that inspires you: My deck

Being able to look over the core of the city inspires me because I see the archetectural beauty of the city, the grit of the city and the affluence of the city all in one view. It pushes me to work harder to do better by seeing the true dicotomy of Cincinnati. My work is rooted in staying true to what is real about our city and standing out looking over downtown really puts everything in perspective.

Why you live in Cincinnati: Cincinnati is a town that has a great amount of potential and as a person who considers himself somewhat talented I want to be a part of the realization of that potential.

If Cincinnati were a tree, it would be a. . .
newly planted seed, planted in a plot that a 100 year old tree previously existed. I say that because this is an old city with old ways but it's a new day and we're at a point where new roots are being laid and the status quo is being replaced.
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