Park Blvd Artworks’ is a 20,000 square-foot building shared by many businesses. This symbiotic environment is a collaboration of independent yet spiritually interdependent artists, designers & craftsman, amid a gallery and a shared showroom.
Park Blvd Artworks resides on Park Blvd in University Heights, which neighbors creative communities North Park and Hillcrest. University Heights is a walking neighborhood with great restaurants and coffee shops such as Lestats, Twiggs and El Zarape. All of which are in a stone’s throw from the building.
The lower level consists of multiple showrooms demonstrating cabinetry, furniture, and kitchen design, as well as a community conference room used for business presentations and meetings. On the upper level, there are twelve private business spaces which are inhabited by artists, graphic designers, interior designers, publicists, photographers, and other professionals. Also upstairs, Borrelli Space Gallery is shared by all tenants and can be used to display art, new product releases, or art shows. The building creates a perfect space for artists or creative businesses.
Michael Borrelli, owner of Borrelli Design + Cabinetry in San Diego, purchased the rights to the 20,000 square foot building in University Heights, California in 2000. He transformed a dismal, plain, and broken down warehouse into a creative space with multiple showrooms demonstrating artistic cabinetry, furniture, and kitchen displays as well as business spaces that include multiple galleries, studios, and private offices. Borrelli said, “I was inspired by the Bauhaus movement to build a space in which creativity could flow freely.” Park Blvd Artworks has few interior walls that reach the ceiling, providing an open air loft environment that creates a sense of companionship between the businesses. The walls are also constantly updated with inspirational artwork and other forms of creative media. Borrelli said, “We all try to support each other. We have a lot of creative energy going on. The interior itself is unique – a cool, inviting, space.” Jeremy Dahl, co-owner of Bex Brands, described it as, “the biggest step up has been being around people who i trust to give me an opinion about my work. If i see someone walking I can just grab them – getting that second eye helps my business.” Barrelli states, “I didn’t want to be in an industrial park – I wanted to be in a neighborhood where we could walk to restaurants and coffee houses. I wanted us to have an impact and be part of a community that supports arts and crafts. And that’s just what we have here.”