For several years, sisters Alissa and Jessica Martin wanted to open a business together. They considered a Downtown hot-soup cart – an idea that had “a certain romance,” Jessica says – or a dog-friendly café next to Frick Park to be called “Bark in the Park.”
“We had all these ideas,” Jessica recalls, “but we thought, ‘What is Pittsburgh not providing for us?’ We’d like a place to buy cool shoes.”
Last week, the Martin sisters opened Pavement, a chic shoe boutique, in a storefront at 36th and Butler streets in Lawrenceville. Pavement’s niche will be smaller brands that are hard to find or unavailable at other local shoe stores -- styles the Martins were snapping up during New York visits, or buying online.
Much of their stock is from international lines like Palladium from France, Camper from Spain and Miz Mooz from Israel; a popular U.S. brand is FarylRobin. Styles range from high stacked heels (surprisingly comfortable, Alissa insists) to gladiator sandals to walk-all-day ballet flats, but they’re just carrying women’s shoes for now. “We did our research: Women had on average 34 pairs of shoes, men had four,” Alissa says.
Prices range from about $55 to $150.
3629 Butler Street, 412-621-6400. Tue.-Fri. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.Sources: Alissa and Jessica Martin
Photo copyright © Tom Altany