The name Penhollows conjures up all sorts of woodsy, romantic images. But Roger Guzik laughs and confesses that his new store on South Highland Avenue in Shadyside is actually named for a street in Portsmouth, N.H.
Very much like a store in New Hampshire, Penhollows boasts a highly personal selection of wares that includes Winslow Homer prints, baby presents, handbags, antiques, rare and miniature books, furniture, candles, handmade stationery, decoupage plates, lamps, china, Rockwell Kent pottery, pewter, branches of curly willow ... in fact, a practically endless assortment of treasures. All of it is charmingly displayed in a way that contributes to the shop's wonderfully eclectic atmosphere.
Guzik was a telecommunications project manager ("boring") who wanted a change. His sense of style and terrific taste are what make the shop so unique.
Who selects the merchandise? "Anything that sells, I picked," he says with a grin. He gets an assist from Maryanna Klevens, the former owner of Soprafino down the street.
"We moved to Shadyside and weren't finding stores like this around here," Guzik says. "We wanted to add something we liked to the neighborhood. I love boutique-type shopping, and we really wanted a store that if we walked by, we would want to stop in. When we grew up there were always stores like this. Now there's Target and Wal-Mart."
Penhollows, 244A S. Highland Ave., 412-665-0767.
First Published: May 17, 2008, 8:00 a.m.