By: Caitlyn Scott
If you’d asked Kelly Sanders in 2016 what she would have envisioned herself doing in the next seven years, she probably wouldn’t have expected to be co-owner of a Pittsburgh-based gift shop.
Upon a chance meeting, Sanders would soon take her passion for art and expand it on a hyper-local scale, giving artists and local organizations a newfound voice in the community.
After attending a Pittsburgh Technology council event in 2017, Sanders met Monica Grunick recalling how both seemed to be the only “creative people in a room of tech people.”
After exchanging contacts, Sanders received word from Grunick months later describing a space available in Mount Washington for her previous business called “Pop Craft.”
“[Grunick] found a space and realized it would be a better gift shop than a shop for her pre-existing business,” Sanders said. “She told me about it and after talking with her, we decided to go into business together.”
Sanders and Grunick renamed the store “love, Pittsburgh,” and their dream of expanding the Pittsburgh art community became a reality. The store now showcases more than 100 local artists and has grown to three locations.
Kelly Sanders, 52, of Pittsburgh,Pa., is co-owner of a gift-shop called ‘love,Pittsburgh’ located on Liberty Avenue in Downtown, Pittsburgh. Sanders and business partner Monica Gurnick opened the gift shop together in 2017. The Liberty Avenue location is one of three stores within the area.
Since co-owning “love, Pittsburgh,” Sanders has not only aided in the city’s art community but has also promoted “sustainability,” giving back to other local organizations.
“It just felt natural for us [to give back],” she said. “We partner with organizations like Tree Pittsburgh so, whenever someone makes a purchase of $10 or more and declines a shopping bag, we donate fifty cents towards planting a tree in Pittsburgh and we contribute to Hello Neighbor [by selling my Hello Neighbor gift boxes] where 5% of the sale proceeds [which are donated] go to help resettle unhoused people from other countries in Pittsburgh.”
With Sanders speaking upon her time as co-owner, she also elaborated on her experiences prior to “love, Pittsburgh.”
“I had a career in New York City as a clothing designer, living there for 21 years,” Sanders said. “I grew up here, [in Pittsburgh] in the Pleasant Hills area.”
Sanders now lives in Mount Lebanon.
Upon speaking with customers and employees about Sanders, Point Park University sophomore, Alex Zahniser, 20, spoke of Sanders’ work ethic and determination for expressing artists and community aid.
“Kelly is a hardworking individual that’s proven that if you put in the work and effort, you can achieve your goals,” Zahniser said. “She’s able to do her dream job everyday because she really puts in the work.”
Along with Zahniser, Sales Associate at ‘love, Pittsburgh’s’ Liberty Avenue location and Point Park Alumni Lexi Langdon, 22, has worked with Sanders and Grunick for roughly two years, describing her experience as a member of the team.
“Kelly and Monica are both amazing, they’re the best bosses I’ve had in my life,” Langdon said. “They’ll always help out the team instead of making you feel like you’re dumb. I’ve learned so much from them both, they have been great.”
love, Pittsburgh is open to shoppers weekdays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and is closed Tuesday.
