Meet Jack and Sarah Clausen at Sparks and Embers 

Sarah and Jack Clausen

Meet Jack and Sarah Clausen at Sparks and Embers

Our community is rife with people from all over the world, including one of our newest entrepreneurs, Jack and Sarah Clausen.

After decades of living and working in many different area codes  — their most recent address was in New York City — this extremely creative couple was ready for a new adventure.  Their desire to flee the crowded Big Apple during the pandemic and live someplace new brought them to Ithaca. 

“We moved here from Brooklyn in July of 2020 to escape the pandemic. Our original plan was to fix up an old house as an Airbnb and return to Brooklyn. But, we fell in love with

Sarah and Jack Clausen

Jack and Sarah Clausen are the creative minds and proud owners of Sparks and Embers in Press Bay Alley.

the Ithaca community and its natural beauty, so we decided to stick around and put down some roots. Sarah and I are both very creative people, and it is wonderful to have a new outlet for that,” says Jack. 

As part of settling into their new surroundings, the couple decided to use their extensive retail management expertise by joining the independently owned and operated small business community as the proud owners of Sparks and Embers. Their lifestyle boutique opened in Press Bay Alley during the pandemic in October 2020. 

“Honestly, having the guts to start a business in the middle of a pandemic feels like a major accomplishment! One of the positives that came out of 2020 was the fact that our lives were shaken up … we suddenly had time on our hands. We wanted to channel the chaos and uncertainty into something positive,” says Jack. 

Jack and Sarah have a combined two decades of retail management experience at the store and corporate level.  They have worked at large brands such as Madewell, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, and Levis — both in the United Kingdom and the U.S. 

“While we learned a lot from our retail careers, the larger brands often felt bloated, and we often felt stifled and suffocated by the corporations we were part of. The idea of owning a boutique has always appealed to us, but it has been something quite ephemeral.  It wasn’t until we stumbled across the Press Bay Alley community and saw an empty space there that everything clicked. We wanted to be part of it and jumped on the opportunity. In just one month, we opened our shop,” explains Jack.

Sparks and Embers is a lifestyle boutique focusing on independent and ethical makers across the U.S. with a vibrant and modern aesthetic. Jack and Sarah are passionate about curating various upscale but affordable items that bring joy to themselves and others. They design their own products, drawing inspiration from Ithaca and our surroundings. Plus, they love to keep things fresh and seek local partnerships like its recently launched yummy local macarons from @sugarandslice.

“We love the inspiring community we have become part of. We have a great team working for us that we are proud of, and we love meeting the residents and hearing their stories,” says Jack. 

For more information about Sparks and Embers visit www.sparksandembers.co or stop by the shop at 118 W. Green St., Suite 3.  

 

The Faces of Downtown Ithaca

Some say the best referrals come from trusted family and friends. In Downtown Ithaca, quality recommendations often come from speaking directly to our hospitable downtown business owners and managers. Afterall, who knows their business best than the business owner themselves.

Welcome to Faces of Downtown Ithaca where we’ll give you an insider’s look at downtown’s shops, let you meet your shopkeepers, and restaurateurs who provide this area with some of the finest shopping, dining, and attractions that the Finger Lakes Region has to offer.

Not only do these folks work here, but they also dine, shop, and play here. Many of them also live here, too! This is their Downtown Ithaca and now, they are sharing some of their histories with you.

#facesofdowntownithaca