Kyle Cross came to a point in high school where he had two paths to choose from.
He grew up following path A, a path of athleticism his muscled body was built for. But his heart began to pull him to path B, a path full of art, creativity and passion.
Cross chose the path where he would live and breathe art. Since those high school years, "I've done nothing but art," he said.
Cross, 31, opened Store 101 two and a half months ago with partner Nick Black, 28. The boutique and gallery sells custom-made jewelry, clothing, purses and paintings by various artists. Cross came up with the academia-inspired name because Gainesville is a college town.
He moved to Gainesville with high expectations for the art scene. He already knew the city was known for its music scene, and he thought this could translate over to the art community. But as the days went by, he realized the city was lacking the medium to bring art to the pinnacle that the music scene already enjoyed.
"I started to notice there was no real place for everyone to kind of get together and celebrate art and the lifestyle," he said. "There wasn't anything like where you lived art, and you work art and you talked art."
With his experience from attending Ringling College of Art and Design and starting his own online clothing brand, he put the pieces together and came up with the concept of a hybrid store known as Store 101, located at 101 N. Main St.
"That was the idea. Taking all things art and kind of throwing it all into one melting pot," he said.
The products in the store currently come from artists he has met while attending and teaching at Ringling.
Upstairs, the store is reserved as a gallery where Cross hosts shows to spotlight local artists and local art movements. So far, the store has held two events with local artists.
"My goal is to get more locals in here bringing their work so we can figure out a way to expose Gainesville to it," Cross said.
The art selected for the store is based on Cross' passion for the underground art movement.
"I'm steering away from things like watercolor palm trees and family portraits, and not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just not really what I'm trying to do," he said.
Black, Cross' friend and business partner, said he has received nothing but positive feedback about the store.
"I don't think I've met one person that came in here that thinks this place is stupid," Black said."We're just trying to do something cool and fun for Gainesville."
