Shalimar Bazaar to close after 25 years in Greensburg

Shalimar Bazaar, a Greensburg boutique specializing in eclectic home decor, plans to close after 25 years in business.

Owner Karen Barns said she’s retiring to spend time with her family.

Though she hasn’t set a final day, plans are to close the East Otterman Street store in late May or early June.

Barns has a degree in fine art design and had worked as a decorator for about 15 years before opening the store in 1994.

The idea for the bazaar came on suddenly, she said.

“One day I saw the building, and I said, ‘Oh, that would make a great store,’” she said.

Shalimar is named after royal gardens in India. The name, and the store itself, was inspired by Barns’ love of world travel.

“In my travels, I used to see all these really neat things that you couldn’t see different places, and that gave me the idea to open up a store where you could find unusual products at good prices,” she said.

In addition to selling home decor, staff at the bazaar have also offered design and decoration consulting. Custom silk flower arrangements have been a store specialty.

The bazaar constantly transformed, with Barns repainting and redecorating once or twice a year.

It perhaps has been best known for its Christmas celebrations. Barns and her staff would go all-out, decorating every room with a different holiday theme, with about a dozen ornamented Christmas trees.

“The store was gorgeous at Christmas. We had people coming from very far to see it,” Barns said.

She has two full-time employees and added part-time staff for the holidays.

Barns is holding a retirement sale, selling off all remaining inventory, furniture and fixtures.

“I have the nicest customers in the world. Everyone has been so nice, and kind,” she said. “People have been coming in crying, and sad to see us go.”