Downtown Akron has seen close to $200 million in residential investment since 2018, and today, there are roughly 3,000 people who call the neighborhood home. Get to know them in our new 10 Questions with a Downtown Akron Resident series, where downtown residents share their favorite downtown places, moments, and more. Today, we’re featuring Keisha White.
How long have you lived in downtown Akron, and what brought you here? I will have lived downtown for a year in January. My youngest child left for college in July 2024, so I downsized, and here I am!
Which building do you live in, and what is your favorite thing about your apartment/building? I live in Building 17 of The Goodrich. I love everything about The Goodrich so far. Living in the building with the main lobby is very convenient; access to coffee and snacks is the best. I also have beautiful views from my apartment.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. I have lived in Ohio my entire life and grew up in a very small town. I moved to Akron when I was 19 years old, with my little girl who was two at the time. I have three adult kids, and we have a family dog. I am an IT professional for an interior design company located in Medina. I don’t plan on being in Akron too much longer, but while I am still here, I will be living at The Goodrich!
What three things do you need in order to have a good day? I am someone who needs to start my day with some kind of activity! Even if it’s just walking my dog. Fresh air and sunshine when I can get it for sure. I also need to complete something productive, even just a little task. Finally, I need to talk to my kids. They make every day a good day.
What is your favorite downtown restaurant and why? I love Crave. The food is always amazing. I also love the atmosphere, and the bar is great, as well.
What is your favorite downtown festival, event, or public space? I love Lock 3 in the summer. The concerts and food trucks are always a good way to spend a weekend day/evening.
What excites you the most about downtown Akron? Growing up in a small town, I always knew I wanted to live in a city/downtown area. After my kids were older, the plan was always to move to a place where I could walk and stay active and still have everything I needed close by. My goal was to live somewhere where I could have restaurants, entertainment, and groceries all within walking distance. I love the Akron Civic Theatre and Akron Art Museum.
If you could add any new business (or type of business) to the neighborhood, what would it be? I think downtown Akron needs some type of market or grocery location. Aldi is walking distance from where I live, but not necessarily close for all downtown residents. I’d love to see a Trader Joes or even a local market to pick up basics. I think additional places for quick food options would also be good.
As a resident, where do you see downtown in 20 years? I would love to see the downtown area grow. More businesses, more residents. I never thought I would move to downtown Akron until I toured The Goodrich. I fell in love with the true downtown feel of the residents. I think the improvements the city has made over the last five years have been amazing. There are still a lot of opportunities here, and it’s exciting to see what the city will do next.
What do you want the world to know about downtown Akron? I think Akron is underrated by so many people. There is so much more art and culture here than people realize. The city really does a good job of being inclusive and celebrating all cultures, races, and religions. We need more cities that embrace the real people that make America and the world what it is. It’s celebrating diversity that will help us understand our neighbors!
Click here to learn about downtown living options.
Click here to read The 11 Best Things About Living in Downtown Akron.