Penn Hills Garden Center merges with Steel Goat Marketplace and Gifts

Penn Hills Lawn and Garden recently transitioned to Gardening With Jayme, and is now a vendor at its neighbor business, Steel Goat Marketplace and Gifts.

Penn Hills Lawn and Garden has been around since 1984 on the first floor of the building at the intersection of Rodi and Jefferson roads, and Steel Goat Marketplace and Gifts is on the second floor.

Jayme Visnesky, co-owner of Steel Goat Marketplace & Gifts, has been at the helm of the garden center since 2000. The garden center was known for its family dynamic as Visnesky’s parents ran it before her. After her mom retired, and her dad passed away in 2020, Visnesky decided it was time to make some changes.

“The family dynamic changed a lot,” she said.

Gardening With Jayme will offer perennials, select bag goods, annuals and vegetables. Visnesky said they will not be doing bulk deliveries, and shrubs and trees will no longer be available to buy. New lines will be posted on the business’s Facebook page.

Visnesky said there are plans to offer activities to both children and adults through the garden center, as well as classes.

Visnesky and fellow co-owner, Darcy Kennedy, see the transition as an opportunity to build off of Steel Goat’s success and continue to grow it. Established in 2019, the vendor marketplace is home to more than 90 vendors ranging from candles, bath and body products, paints, crystals, gems and more.

The business was born after the two wanted to offer a space for entrepreneurs who were unable to open their own brick-and-mortar buildings.

“We didn’t expect it to take over, but it just happened and people loved it,” Kennedy said.

The duo is waiting for winter to pass to begin the business’s makeover, including adding new signage for Gardening With Jayme and providing outdoor shopping.

“We are just going to make it better,” Visnesky said.

A grand reopening is planned for late spring.

Steel Goat is still accepting vendors. There is a waitlist, but priority goes to unique businesses, Kennedy said.

Those interested in becoming a vendor can visit Steel Goat’s Facebook page or call 412-241-0411.