town topics

Kimberly Werner opens Purple Wagon. /Photo by George Mendel

BUSINESS MOVES HERE Kimberly Werner is hitching her wagon to Mt. Lebanon. Her purple wagon, that is. Werner, who has owned Purple Wagon Designs since 2009, has opened a storefront in the Beverly business district at 58 Overlook Drive. The shop focuses primarily on stationery, invitations and paper goods, with Werner’s custom designs at the forefront.

Werner, who lives on Mayfair Drive with her husband, Eric, and children, Alexandra, 6, and Benjamin, 3, is an Art Institute graduate with a degree in graphic design. She also owns Design Intervention, which has focused on graphic design for businesses since 2005.

At Purple Wagon, Werner designs all sorts of invitations but weddings have evolved as a specialty. At the shop, clients can receive custom consultations with Werner or they can browse through an exclusive retail collection of gifts, such as bridal robes, boxed sets of stationery and cards.

Hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, noon to 4; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; evenings and weekends by consultation.

Details: 412-563-3849 or purplewagondesigns.com

 
Greg Anderson owns new Vinyl Remains in Dormont. /Photo by Sam Oshlag

RECORD STORE COMEBACK Greg Anderson had a record store in Manhattan, and it did really well from 1997 through 2002 in the pre-internet boom, pre-cellphone, pre-eBay, pre-iTunes “pre-everything” heyday. But then came the “crash of music when everything got so accessible,” he says.

Now Anderson has the music industry figured out. This fall, he opened Vinyl Remains, a used record store, at 2911 Glenmore Avenue in Dormont. The small store covers virtually every genre (except traditional classical) and has some selected new vinyl in the form of reissues. The store has everything from $1 clearance items to pricey collectibles, he says.  He also  buys and trades records, and sells esoteric books and T-shirts.

Anderson and his wife, Jennifer, have a long history in customer service. They owned two bars/restaurants in Brooklyn (and still own one there, called Mother’s). But they were tired of the New York scene, with its crushing rent and crowded streets. They were in town visiting friends in the region when they decided to look at some real estate in Mt. Lebanon. “It seemed pretty cool. Let’s move here,” he said after looking at about 15 houses.

He and Jennifer now live on Newburn Drive with their children, Iris, 9 and Wyatt, 7.

Since the store opened, Anderson has been surprised by the positive response and the supportive nature of the community. “Listen, Pittsburgh has everything that I need,” he says. “I think this is a great area.”

Hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 8. Saturdays, 10 to 8 and Sundays, 10 to 5.

The store is closed Mondays. www.vinylremainspg13.com