Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1344682
or sell treasures. I've always loved the casual spirit of it. We started thinking about buying something around here a couple of years ago. When COVID happened, our company was closed for months, and we were pretty much stranded. So, we said, 'Let's go camp out in Round Top.' That's when we decided to take this journey. We bought the property [Oak Bones], and we did the work during COVID. The idea behind Oak Bones. CP: I've always dreamed of having a compound for family and friends. I'm not a big believer in people having one big home, and a second home, and third home and fourth home — that type of mentality — just because you are privileged and can afford it. I believe in people sharing beauty. I like the idea of us being able to share this beautiful place with others by making it available to rent, have family gatherings, weddings, and birthdays. I love the spirit and space of Oak Bones. Instead of one big house, it has little houses, and cubbies — a place you can gather, a place where you can have your own space. I fell in love with the live oaks and felt like it was home. And you acquired the Highway 237 venue after starting work on Oak Bones? CP: We were going to use Oak Bones as our compound but also do the antiques show from here. But as we developed the property and fell more and more in love with it, we didn't want to take away from the spiritual element of the property. Let's keep the commerce side of our business on 237 and Oak Bones remains a little more holistic, a place to gather and find peace. Your Made in L.A. sign is one of the most Instagrammed spots in L.A. You now have prime real estate on 237. What are your Instagram plans for Round Top? CP: We were proud we were made in L.A., and we had a beautiful wall, and before we knew it, it was a huge phenomenon. It was cool to watch it evolve and take on its own life. I think that's the beauty of it: You don't really own it. You have pride, and you love your town and love what you do, and you just scream really loud that that's who you are and let it be. We are definitely going to scream that we love Round Top. We'll see what we come up with. Is working with family the tie that binds Cisco Home? CP: I do feel like the success is from the infrastructure that we have — the family glue. When I started, my wife was doing the bookkeeping part- time, my mom was helping with the sewing, my brother was helping with carpentry. Everyone was pitching in with what they could contribute while I was trying to figure it out as a 26-year-old guy with no business plan — I was just following my passion. We decided this is how we would keep going. Today, we have at least 20 to 30 family members in a company of around 150 employees. S pring brings change to one of the town's signature blocks: Rummel Square, owned and developed by Mark Massey, has been sold to Kim and Richard Rolland, who also own the forthcoming Round Top Vineyards. Via email, Richard tells PaperCity: "My favorite tenant is the 300-plus-year-old oak tree on the porch of Garden Company restaurant. Kim and I are excited to be part of such a great community. We're planning several new things: live music on the porch of Garden Company, a few seasonal events focused around the old oak tree, and a name change to Rolland's Square by year's end." Meanwhile, Massey and his fiancée, Kasey Buchtien, are hatching the new Fricke Square, named after the family who lived on the original bucolic property back in the day. Bound by Live Oak Street and Austin Street at 200 E. Austin Street, and neighboring Hotel Lulu, the new square will be devoted to wellness, Buchtien's area of expertise. "The vision for Fricke Square is to create a one-stop destination for an overarching health and wellness experience," she says. "Take an hour for a quick workout or group movement class at The Space Studio, stop into Casa Blanke for a healthy light bite, or spend the day relaxing and recharging inside Andalusia Spa." The future spa will be sighted within an existing historic building dating back to 1912, while The Space Studio, new construction, will have strength and cardio- training equipment, plus a studio for yoga, Pilates, and other classes. The future Mr. and Mrs. Massey (who will wed in April) plan to move two more historic homes to Fricke, one of which will become Casa Blanke, paired with a retail boutique that aligns with Fricke Square's focus on fitness. The couple anticipates opening The Space Studio late 2021, followed by the spa and cafe in the new year. Catherine D. Anspon ROUND TOP BUZZ Kasey Buchtien, Mark Massey with Ansel and Belle JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON (Continued from page 88) 90