Moss Hill: Louisville’s newest soap star
Jeanine Moneypenny has moved her Moss Hill operation out of the basement of her Crestwood home and into a bright and open new space in Butchertown Market at 1201 Story Ave.
Not only does the move give her more room to create her small-batch soaps, oils, creams and lotions, it also allows her to open her first retail establishment.
“Andy (Blieden, owner of the building) made me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” Moneypenny said, “and it felt right. This place has enormous creative, artisanal energy.”
Besides, Blieden said, when they first excavated the space for development, they found that the original tenant (circa 1900) was the Magic Flake Soap Factory, “so there’s a certain karma to this.”
If the leap is quantum for Moneypenny, it’s only the latest in a series of daring moves since she began making candles and soaps for her friends in a mommies’ group eight years ago. Encouraged by their response, she took her wares to local art and gift shows and, within a short time, her stuff was in Taste of Kentucky, the Paradies Airport Shops, Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft, Paul’s Fruit Markets, Two Chicks in Middletown and the Old Louisville Visitor’s Center.
