The Rosie’s Workshop “instrument lamps” can sport such bases as real guitars or saxophones.

Photography buffs, gift-shop aficionados, the environmentally conscious, and seekers of the unique will find plenty to love about Rosie’s Workshop on Butler Street in Lawrenceville. After all, where else can you get handcrafted vintage lighting dubbed a Harry Potter camera light, made from a real camera … “instrument” lighting such as a lamp with a saxophone as the base … vintage floor radios with Bluetooth … and an altimeter table clock? Other goods, such as a ceramic hand vase, an alien mug, a rocket-ship clock, and a hand-poured candle wafting the scent of “Bonfire and Bad Decisions” hint that you’re in for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

“The concept is a fusion of post-war industrial and mid-century modern. The founders’ grandmothers were ‘Rosies’—the Rosies were women who worked in the World War II factories. That instilled in them a passion to make things that last and that matter,” says Claire Costello, the company’s first employee and its current public relations and marketing/operating manager. Indeed, the image of Rosie the Riveter, flexing her muscle, became an iconic symbol of wartime patriotism and courage.

“Team Rosie” (left to right): Chris Koch, creative director; Blair Koss, co-founder; Claire Costello, operations and marketing lead.

The store’s inventory, Costello continues, is meant to reflect the viewpoint of the mythical granddaughter of Rosie: nostalgia and a celebration of history but with the modern customer in mind.

The founders are based in Chautauqua, New York, but decided to come to Pittsburgh temporarily, showcasing their products at the Home and Garden show in 2018. Bringing their concept to Pittsburgh seemed like a great fit because of the city’s ties to the Industrial Revolution. A second store is located in Ellicottville, New York—another historic destination­—but the founders consider its Lawrenceville shop to be the flagship store.

The Workshop calls this their Harry Potter Camera Lamp.

In July 2019 they opened their first store in Pittsburgh, specifically, in Ross Park Mall, but knew that they eventually wanted to be in the city. They stuck it out through the pandemic, but in June 2022 they found the perfect space in Lawrenceville, a neighborhood that is in harmony with the Rosie’s Workshop vibe. “Lawrenceville is a great neighborhood for independent retailers. The neighborhood is fun; it has become such an upbeat environment and makes us fit in here so well,” says Costello. And being located right underneath the historic Arsenal Bowl is consistent with the historic nature of the items for sale at Rosie’s Workshop.

The store’s focus is on classic lighting and décor stemming from the Industrial Revolution era, such as its camera accent lights, which are upcycled from real products that would have ended up in a landfill otherwise. “Those are real vintage cameras that our manufacturing and design team restores and polishes, and then researches so that each camera comes with a certificate of authenticity,” comments Costello. For example, the store offers a Steven Spielberg camera accent light, so called because it is the same type of camera he found in his father’s closet and with which he began making movies at the age of 13. Other examples are a Spider-man camera light and a Disney-movie camera light. The accent lights are produced in the design and manufacturing studio in Chautauqua.

Handmade rugs at Rosie’s can be made from recycled upholstery.

Other products include alarm clocks, ceramics, vases, books, mugs, socks, handmade rugs recycled from upholstery, and accessories. Unlike the camera accent lights and rugs, not all the products are upcycled, but the company does try to source them from other businesses that share similar values. “It is important that the product is made well, made to last, and is also functional. Everything in our store is functional, not just decorative,” says Costello.

One category of goods that is crafted locally is the hand-poured candle, made from pure soy and set in appealing containers that can be recycled or reused, like the Bourbon Caramel Waffle candle in a metal container, with notes of sweet caramel, sea salt, vanilla bourbon, and bergamot. Costello notes that these are part of their story-candle line; the candles are accompanied by a story based on the candle’s scent. “It’s a fun gift and a way to make it more compelling,” she adds.

The Lawrenceville flagship store’s vibrant storefront, attractive sidewalk displays, and eclectic music playing outdoors have lured in curious customers who are passing by on the street and have garnered a loyal group of regulars. Costello refers to Rosie’s Workshop as an experiential gift store, with a focus on engaging the customer. “You come in and see the bright colors; it’s unique and different and comes with a story. The creative sales team can guide you through an experience of what we sell and why; this is what helps us stand out from the typical retail store.”

In the works are plans for an upstairs event space (to be open to the public by the summer), which will feature a Memphis Group Design installation—with an art deco/pop art feel—and which eventually will be available to rent for private parties. “Customers can expect to see more of that style in our new merchandise this year as we continue to work on the event space,” says Costello—who confirms that the business’s main goals are positivity and making people happy.

“You can’t say ‘Rosie’s’ without smiling,” she says.