Monica Grunick & Kelly Sanders
love, Pittsburgh and love, Owners
lovepittsburghshop.com, lovestores.co

As the owners of love, Pittsburgh and love, Kelly Sanders and Monica Grunick specialize in curating and selling locally crafted gifts made by more than 100 artisans and makers.

While love, Pittsburgh offers everything from art prints, candles, T-shirts, local coffee and tea, sweets and spices, home goods, ornaments and collectibles, love, is a concept store the owners say was created to help fill one’s cup — and to be a reminder to love themselves.

There, customers will find modern loungewear, jewelry, candles, personal care, home accessories and stationery, all curated for the love, brand.

In 2017, Sanders, who spent two decades working in fashion in New York City, and Grunick, who worked a corporate job in Pittsburgh before transitioning to crafting, founded love, Pittsburgh as a single brick-and-mortar store.

Today, they operate three locations — in Downtown, on Mount Washington and in the Strip District.

love, began in 2023 as a small offering within the love, Pittsburgh stores. After a positive response, love, opened as a physical storefront in Market Square. After a year and a half of love, Sanders and Grunick say the concept is growing, and they look forward to expanding the e-commerce side of the business.

As partners, Sanders and Grunick say their favorite areas to work on are setting the creative direction for seasonal collections, collaborating with artists and makers and developing new products.

Personally, Sanders says she loves to dream big, look at the larger picture and lead with empathy while working hard — not to mention surrounding herself with a kind, thoughtful team.

“I am grateful for the first 20 years of my career being in corporate fashion in [New York City], traveling the world for inspiration, learning from incredible co-workers and gaining insight into micro and macro trends,” Sanders says. “Being able to apply my previous experience in a small, thoughtful, meaningful way in partnership with Monica and our team is a constant career highlight.”

Grunick says women are also specially equipped to sort out any business problems that arise. She believes women are natural business owners thanks to strong creative visions and an inclination to take responsibility for overseeing things.

“When I first ventured into owning my own business, I knew that if I worked for myself as hard as I did for other people, I would have nothing to worry about,” she says. “As a business woman, I identify as independent and creative.”

When they first started the company, the women utilized support groups such as the Co-CREATE business ignition program through the Pittsburgh Technology Council, the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship and the federal Small Business Administration program.

Eight years and four storefronts later, Sanders and Grunick are passionate about partnering with organizations for charitable giving. Last year, they began focusing their efforts toward the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, including collecting money throughout the year through donation jars at store registers and online, as well as dedicated fundraising events.

For 15 years, Pittsburgh Magazine has spotlighted exceptional businesswomen within our pages and at quarterly networking events. Join us for a vibrant conversation with our four inspiring honorees and a keynote speaker at our Women & Business Awards.

Our next in-person event:

When: Thursday, February 13 from 5:30-8 p.m.
Where: Alloy 26 in Nova Place
Ticket Price: $40, with $20 benefitting UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation

Get tickets here.