Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristie LeVangie-Melke.
Hi Kristie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The 4th Avenue Farmhouse is a Middletown-based small business that operates online and at markets selling home and garden decor, cottage foods, handmade apparel and bags, upcycled glass art, and more. Wanting to build something of her own with a little more freedom for creativity, Kristie LeVangie-Melke walked away from her dream job after decades in the tech and market research industry after 25+ years. She founded the 4th Avenue Farmhouse in May of 2024.
Physically, the farmhouse and greenhouse is located in downtown Middletown at the corner of 4th Avenue and Yankee Road, just blocks away from the Middletown Open Air Market (MOAM). It is currently a private homestead and not open to the public. The 4th Avenue Farmhouse offers pre-order for porch pick-up from their website and periodic porch pop-ups announced via their social media channels. Otherwise, they travel the area doing events year-round. Kristie is known for her found-object art and one-of-a-kind glass art pieces for the home and garden.
In 2025, Kristie had a little viral moment when she posted a “Dear John” letter to the city of Middletown after they dropped the annual farmer’s market with no outreach to vendors who had already signed up, sent in payment, and built it into their calendars. Rallying community support, Kristie was able to find a new venue thanks to the generosity of Gravel Road Brewing Co., and Kristie stepped up as sole coordinator for Middletown Open Air Market events. The MOAM (Middletown’s Open Air Market) is located halfway between Dayton and Cincinnati in downtown Middletown, Ohio. Located across the field from Gravel Road Brewing Co. and nestled behind the shops and restaurants along our historic main street, the MOAM sits in the DORA district, offering a quaint experience for market shoppers. Grab a beverage (adult or otherwise) and come sip-and-shop a variety of vendors during market events while also taking in a game of cornhole or giant Jenga with friends or family.
The hope is to have a huge impact on the community at-large, but also to the close-knit vendor community we are fostering in Middletown and surrounding cities. The 4th Avenue Farmhouse is proud to be a market staple vendor along with other great local companies. Together, we hope to create a destination for the downtown that breaths life into market days by attracting vendors and customers alike from all over the area.
Part farmers’ market and part makers’ market, this field of dreams is helping budding entrepreneurs, small businesses and performers connect directly with their consumers and grow their brands while also celebrating Middletown’s rich history and community. Each visit is a new adventure with an every-changing array of products and vendors.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Despite the community support online to continue the market, getting actual visitors has been a challenge. Because we are an outdoor venue, our partial first year we had to deal with inclement weather, 100+ degree days, and competing with several other local events. (We kept the former city farmer’s market calendar since many vendors had already worked it into their schedule, like us (The 4th Avenue Farmhouse).)
Despite spend on social media, lack of response from news outlets, and trying to be in all the event directories on the net, we still struggled a bit to get market-goers. We are hoping this season will pick up as we have more interest from vendors and food trucks alike.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The 4th Avenue Farmhouse is part home and garden decor, and part cottage bakery. We bring the “home” to your home. We are a multi-faceted vendor offering upcycled glass art (cake plates, bird baths and feeders, candleholders, etc.), found object art pieces, hand-sewn apparel (garden and kitchen aprons, hats, totes, etc.), home and garden decor (artwork, bread towels, kitchen towels, etc.), cottage foods (mixes, dried herbs and seasonings, cookies, etc.), handmade jewelry, and more.
At The 4th Avenue Farmhouse, we aim to make your home feel more like you. From fun aprons that express your style to nostalgic treats that bring back memories of grandma, we curate a modern farmhouse aesthetic that is both refreshing and familiar.
I’m most proud that we have a number of repeat customers who love our products and continue to return again and again. I also love overhearing shoppers discuss my found object art and talk about how beautiful my pieces are. It fills my artistic soul and validates my decision to create something of my own.
What are your plans for the future?
We keep getting asked when we will have a physical storefront, so that is probably our next big move. We are dedicated to our downtown and fueling growth in our neighborhood. We would love to stay close to the market and our home base as we look for retail space. And we are quickly outgrowing our adorable trailer!
Pricing:
- We have items as low as $2.50 to as pricey as $75, but we try to keep our pricing reasonable which keeps our customers coming back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.4thAveFarm.com
- Instagram: @the4thavenuefarmhouse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The4thAveFarm/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/moamohio/
