Longtime garden market in Penn Hills seeks public's assistance

A Penn Hills vendor market housing 110 businesses is turning to the public for help to continue being a home for local artisans to showcase their wares.

Jayme Visnesky, 48, and Darcy Kennedy, 54, co-owners of the Steel Goat Marketplace, have created a GoFundMe and set out a donation box seeking help to continue services and make needed upgrades in the facility.

“Like many small businesses, we’ve faced rising costs in utilities, taxes and day-to-day operations,” according to the GoFundMe details. “Instead of passing these expenses on to our vendors and customers, we’re reaching out to our community for support.”

The Steel Goat has been a staple in Penn Hills since 1984. Back then, it was the home of Penn Hills Lawn and Garden. Visnesky’s parents, Beverly and Carl, built and ran the business and Visnesky joined them in 2000. The building was rebuilt in 2007.

Visnesky’s father passed away in 2020, and she took over the business. Kennedy also was an employee at Penn Hills Lawn and Garden.

Just before the covid lockdown, a local vendor approached Visnesky and Kennedy asking to take over the top floor of the business. The arrangement ended up not happening because of limitations the pandemic presented, but it gave the women an idea to pursue a similar project.

In 2022, the store rebranded to what it is today. While the bottom floor still houses a small garden center, the top floor is dedicated to showcasing local artisans and their wares — everything from wood, metal and glass to crochet, embroidery and specialty products.

The vendors come from all over the region, including Penn Hills, Monroeville, Oakmont, Verona, the South Hills, Washington state, Ohio, Fox Chapel, Shaler and Millvale.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Kennedy said.

While the business easily provides community, artistic exploration and passion, rising costs have thrown a wrench into operations. Kennedy said taxes, bills, general costs, repairs and staffing costs that go into the 12,000 square foot building have been hard to maintain.

In addition to general costs, they’re hoping to paint the building’s exterior, the air conditioning is out in part of the building and vendors are requesting add ons to the facility.

The women work closely with the vendors and work to bring their ideas to life. Sellers pay rent to be in the building and the co-owners take 18% in commission for every sale that goes through a Steel Goat chas register.

“We make money, but we don’t make enough money,” Visnesky said. “We’re still in the red.”

Kennedy and Visnesky try to keep rent low for vendors so they can have a chance to make their start in the business and work their way to having their brick and mortar shops.

In an attempt to draw more business, the Steel Goat owners host various events, workshops and classes. Most recently, they began an event called Friday Foodie Market.

Right now, $1,000 a day in sales is their goal. That amount allows them to pay staff, utilities and vendors each month, Visnesky said.

“I have faith that it’s going to flip around,” Visnesky said. “I don’t know why, I just do.”