Co-Retailers, Dining and Donuts Ready to Debut at Lawrenceville Market House
Once a bank, the collective retail hub along Butler Street will include nine spaces.
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Retail shops, donuts and dining— oh my!
A collective retail hub that will include nine new shops, Lawrenceville Market House along Butler Street is scheduled to open later this fall.
Working with Midland Architects, Brian and Irwin Mendelssohn of Pittsburgh-based Botero Development — which also developed co-working space Fulton Commons on the North Side — are redeveloping the former bank building along Butler Street into a co-working retail environment.
The space is being divided into nine business stations of varying sizes, including one located in the former bank vault. Companies will be able to rent a station on a month-to-month basis and customize their section. Each space also will have its own lockable storefront.
Black Cherry Design is one of the vendors making a home in the market. Designer and founding partner Lauren Piasecki says she learned about Market House through social media. Brian Medelssohn is an old colleague of hers, and Piasecki adds she is excited to be part of his latest project.
“I was familiar with another development he had down the street, so I knew this would be great because he has really great taste,” she says.
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Piasecki normally displays her products in a showroom-style layout at her Garfield studio in order to advertise Black Cherry’s upholstery, furniture pieces and skills. However, she will be operating a lifestyle store within the market. Products will include smaller pieces, such as vintage items, rugs, jewelry and art.
“We want it to be a representation of creative people and not just a design store,” she says.
She also is putting out a call for local artists. Piasecki often features locally made work in her designs, and she is hoping to continue doing so in the Market House location.
“There are so many talented artists in the area,” she says. “It’s a great relationship. It gives us the opportunity to bring local artists into our projects — and our projects look better — and the artist gets some exposure for their work outside of popup markets or online shops.”
The anchor of the hub will be a permanent coffee and donut shop called Oliver’s Donuts. The shop is owned and run by the Mendelssohns and will feature outdoor seating. A family-friendly restaurant and bar also is slated for the building’s lower level.
