The Shop in East Liberty celebrated a grand opening last week, and is now offering home goods, everyday art, and jewelry. All items in the store are handmade, and curated from local makers, as well as from artists throughout the country. Owner/artist Julia Reynolds describes it as a retail store for design-conscious people.
Reynolds’ vision for The Shop is to be a comfortable space to display and view handmade items, appearing naturally as they might in a home. She wants the space to contrast with the experience of viewing objects in a gallery, which she says can often be intimidating.
“You want to own something unique and that’s handmade, but you want to come to a place you feel comfortable, where you can touch the artwork or objects,” Reynolds says.
And The Shop aims to be affordable too.
“I hope that people can find things that they love and can easily take home to enjoy,” Reynolds says.
The Shop is located at 214 N. Highland Avenue, two doors down from Union Pig & Chicken.
Reynolds, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College of Arts Management, has lived in East Liberty with her husband for several years. When she began looking for a location to open The Shop, she says staying in the neighborhood was a priority.
The space was completely remodeled from an office-use space to now have a bright and modern feel, reflecting the type of products offered at the store.
The Shop is open until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. Reynolds is hoping her store can help to build foot traffic in this commercial district.
As a first-time business owner, Reynolds believes she has chosen the right neighborhood to open a store.
“We’re in an area that I think encourages this opportunity for anyone,” she says.
The Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, at 214 N. Highland Avenue.
Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Julia Reynolds