Local vendor market seeks public help to stay open
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Steel Goat Marketplace in Penn Hills rents shelf space to small business owners. Photo: Alexis Johnson/Axios
A local vendor market housing more than 100 small businesses says it's struggling to stay open, and hopes the public can help keep its doors open.
Why it matters: Steel Goat Marketplace in Penn Hills rents shelf space to small business owners who can't afford a brick-and-mortar.
- Owners Jayme Visnesky and Darcy Kennedy recently took to social media seeking support from the public to help keep their business afloat.
What they're saying: "Unfortunately, as a lot of you know, the world is crazy. The economy is nuts," Kennedy said in a video posted to the store's Instagram account. "What we are hoping to do is to continue business as usual, but we are having concerns because we are getting hit with a bigger cost of doing business every day."
Zoom in: Steel Goat Marketplace opened in 2022 in the former Penn Hills Lawn and Garden building — a family-run business rooted in the community since the 1980s. When vendors began asking about selling on the building's top floor, owners reimagined the space as a hub for local makers.
Today, the marketplace features more than 100 vendors offering everything from crafts, jewelry, clothing and vinyl records to body butters, home goods and blankets.
- The bottom floor still serves lawn and garden customers.
- A downstairs event space hosts workshops and classes.
- On weekends, a food truck sets up in the parking lot.
Between the lines: Steel Goat started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money.
If you go: Steel Goat Marketplace is at 200 Jefferson Road in Penn Hills.
- The store is rolling out new hours in September: Monday and Tuesday closed, Wednesday 11am-4pm, Thursday-Saturday 11am-6pm, Sunday 11am-4pm.