Studio K/Emporium II Anniversary Magazine by SWPA Special Publications

Studio K celebrates 25 years as a successful Charleroi salon and spa Story and photos by Dave Zuchowski

On July 9, 2001, Karen Kosh opened a salon and spa in downtown Charleroi that “does everything but hair.” “For ten years, I’d worked for Uncle Bob [Kosh] in sales at Emporium II, and figured that Charleroi was good to him, and maybe it would be good for me,” she said At first, Kosh started offering nail and tanning services at what had been a former upholstery store on Fallowfield Avenue, which dates back even further as a butcher shop. Over the years, she’s added facials, eyelashes, spray tans, massages (customized to your choice) and special occasion makeup services to her repertoire. Originally, she operated out of the building’s first floor, but has since added the second floor, where she offers a weight loss program similar to Weight Watchers called Ideal Protein. Described as a doctor-designed, ketogenic weight loss protocol that

treats weight loss as healthcare and uses food as medicine to empower participants to lose weight, the Ideal Protein program at the salon is owned by Dr. David Gobbie. “The program is in its eighth year and has been really popular,” Kosh said. “After participants check in, they’re weighed and given heart-healthy food and supplements.” Studio K works with a staff of eight, and Kosh said she couldn’t do it without “her girls.” Her aunt and Bob’s sister, Deb Savage, is an esthetician and 30-year makeup specialist. Another employee, Rachel Berklovich of Fayette

Nail tech Rachel Berklovich and Karen Kosh stand by a 25-year anniversary sign

City, has been employed as a nail technician ever since the salon opened. “Karen is an excellent boss and a good friend,” Berklovich said. “She and our awesome customers made it an easy 25 years.” Kosh likes to mention additional members of her team who’ve contributed to the studio’s ongoing success. They include 6-year nail tech Paige Sands, spray tan specialist Allyson Lee and rookie nail tech Rachael Dague. In high school and while attending Westmoreland County Community College, where she majored in business management, Kosh worked in sales at her uncle’s Emporium II. In those ten years, she picked up her uncle’s values like being nice to people, being honest with customers, keeping

prices fair and making sure people walk out of the door happy. When she was just out of high school, Kosh’s parents decided to give her a year to play and have fun. She said she liked working at Disney World in Orlando so much she made it two years instead of one. After she returned home, she attended Uniontown Beauty Academy and then spent five years working at a day spa. Just before it was about to close, she made the jump to open her own salon. A salon that doesn’t do hair may be an anomaly, but Kosh said her clientele comes in to relax and doesn’t want to be bothered by the sound of hair dryers. Some of her current patrons have been with her for 30 years

(several followed her to Studio K after enjoying her services at the aforementioned day spa). Ranging in age from 9 to 90, most patrons have stuck by her during the COVID epidemic when she closed for three months. A sound, solid support system — not just of reliable employees and partners but also of clients — has kept Studio K running. As Kosh wrote on her Studio K Salon and Spa Facebook page, “It’s been twenty-five years of hard work, dedication and perseverance, but also twenty-five years of love, laughter and unwavering support from our wonderful community.”

Makeup specialist Debbie Savage and Karen Kosh seated at Studio K

Studio K, located at 329 Fallowfield Avenue in Charleroi, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Phone 724-483-5515.

Outside Studio K

Photo by Trista Thurston A treatment room at Studio K

Photo by Trista Thurston Karen Kosh works on a client’s nails in her studio

Charleroi Emporium has 55 years of staying power Story by Dave Zuchowski

Spend just five minutes with Bob Kosh, and you’ll probably come away with at least two impressions, as I did. One, he likes people. Two, he’s a talker and knows how to tell a good story. Both traits are probably among the things that have kept him and his Charleroi store going for the past 55 years. Kosh, just out of high school, had been looking for a place to open a store. The Monessen native found one in nearby Charleroi, at the time the biggest shopping location in the Mon Valley. Kosh opened Emporium II on November 11, 1971 and has never looked back since. He began with an inventory of water beds

and frames, which he left his girlfriend to sell while he worked in the mill and construction. He soon added gift items like candles, pictures, wall hangings, then jumped into men’s and women’s jewelry, some of it gold and silver. As his inventory grew, he kept purchasing adjacent buildings until he added four new spaces, which now make up his large, sprawling Emporium II. For 20 years, he had two resident tattoo artists on board and still offers body piercing, including ear piercing for as low as $5. Prices rise from there, depending on which part of the body a client wants pierced. Over the years, his business has experi-

enced spurts and jumps as well as slumps. COVID made inroads and cut his profits, and recent online shopping has cut sales by as much as 50%. “For the most part, the store has done pretty well,” he said. “I feel that people are starting to come back to in-store shopping, because they’re tired of returning things to online sellers when items they buy don’t meet their expectations.” Currently, the Emporium carries a lot of men’s and women’s clothing, much of it brought in from New York. When the Steelers won their Super Bowls and the Penguins the Stanley Cup, his sales of themed sportswear skyrocketed. Now an

entire section of the store is reserved for sports wearables and related items. With a whopping 55 years in the business under his belt, Kosh said that he hopes to keep

going at the store “as long as God lets him.” Emporium II is located at 709 Fallowfield Ave., in Charleroi. For more information, phone 724-483-3303.

Photo by Trista Thurston Outside Emporium II

CURTAINS UP! It’s time to celebrate two remarkable businesses that have been an integral part of the Charleroi community for generations! Congratulations to Karen and the Studio K team on 25 years, and to Bob and the Emporium II team on an incredible 55 years in business! These extraordinary milestones deserve to be recognized, honored, and celebrated! With heartfelt congratulations from a satisfied customer and friend, Deb France Audrey’s Custom Draperies — now offering convenient “Shop at Home” services!

315 2nd St.,Charleroi, PA 15022

724-483-8045

CONGRATULATIONS! Studio K & Emporium II

There is nothing more rewarding than being part of a strong community of local businesses that set a standard of excellence and serve as an inspiration for others to follow. Congratulations to Studio K and Emporium II on your incredible milestones of 25 and 55 years of success! Your dedication, commitment, and passion have helped shape Charleroi into a wonderful place to shop, work, and find the services our community relies on. Thank you for all you have contributed over the years and for being such an important part of our community. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable achievements and to many more successful years ahead!

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

With sincere congratulations, Your friends at Home Warehouse

CHARLEROI PENNSYLVANIA EST. 1901

HOME H OM O M E HO OME ME W WAREHOUSE A R E H O U S E WA AR RE EH HO OU US SE

7 McKean Ave, Charleroi, PA 15022

Thoughts on Studio K and Karen Kosh from the Mon Valley Regional Chamber Executive Director By Dave Zuchowski

As someone who knows Karen Kosh, owner of Studio K Salon and Spa, both as a colleague and a good friend, Leanna Spada was able to deliver her thoughts when she presented Kosh with the 2023 Excellence in Business Award. “Presented to a member business that continually and consistently provides its customers with outstanding products and/or services, Studio K demonstrated longevity, operating for 20 or more years,” Spada said. Since the salon opened on July 9, 2001, Spada said in her presentation speech that “Karen’s family was there every step of the way to help and support her. Her beautiful mom, Irma, was the shining face you saw as you entered the establishment; her Aunt Debbie also joined in adding esthetician services to the business. And, of course, her dad was there working behind the scenes as dads do for their daughters. Since 2001, her business has never stopped growing.” The rest of Spada’s speech underscores Karen’s achievements, personality, kindnesses and generosity to the community. It is written as follows: “There have been so many women who Karen and her staff have made feel beautiful not just outside but on the inside as well. Oh, and men too! Karen is that business owner who, no matter when you enter her shop, you are greeted with her smiling face. She invests her heart, soul and endless hours into her business. She is the most hands-on owner I know. Out of her hundreds of customers, she knows everyone’s name. When you walk into Studio K, you feel as if you are the only and most important client that has ever walked through the door. Karen is also committed to the community. Whenever donations are needed

for Christmas, for the town fireworks, Halloween festivities, she generously gives. She has sold more tickets for the fire department and organizations than most people combined. I know anytime the chamber calls on her, she says, just tell

me what you need. I recently found out she has food catered one day during the Christmas season to the Charleroi firefighters to thank them for their service. Most importantly, she has helped many residents in our area who are struggling by

Courtesy of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Karen Kosh and Leanna Spada, executive director of the Mon Valley Chamber

to hard work. Even over 20 years later, she hasn’t slowed down, and you can see in her eyes that she genuinely enjoys her work. Her clients are more like her family than clients. Her shop is nothing but positivity from employees to the customers. It just rubs off. You can’t help but be happy when you are at Studio K.

buying them a winter coat, food or basic necessities. There is a local lady who is less fortunate; she visits Karen every morning, and every morning Karen greets her with a smile and a cup of coffee, no matter how busy she is. Karen still resides in Rostraver with her significant other, Jim, and two stepchildren, Jenna and Jake. Oh, and I can’t forget their dog.

Karen and Studio K are the epitome of excellence, like this award states, but excellence does not mean perfection. It means making the right choices, going that extra mile even when things seem overwhelming, and wanting to make a difference in the world even if it’s just by smiling when that customer walks through the door.

Karen’s day normally starts at around 5 a.m., with her first stop always being her parents’ home. She checks on them and makes sure they have everything they need. Then, to the shop, where she works at least ten hours most days. May I tell you I have never seen anyone multitask like this woman? She can be putting a set of nails on, answering the phone, making appointments, and getting everyone in the shop a cup of coffee, never missing a beat. Courtesy of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Karen Kosh, Susan Jo Johnson and Leanna Spada Karen is no stranger

And that is what Karen has done… Karen, thank you for believing in our community and for being you. It is my immense pleasure to present the 2023 Excellence in Business award to my long-time friend, Karen Kosh.”

Grazie, amici Studio K on your 25 and Emporium II on your 55 years of service to our community!

Studio K & Emporium II

Well done my friends! From your neighbor in our business community. Justin and the Armando’s Pizza Family!

Armpizza Armando's anz ado's p i z za piz

on 25 and 55 Years of Service to the Charleroi Community & More! From your friends at... Thank you for your success!

Siblings Debbie Savage and Bob Kosh

Bob and Karen Kosh

Emporium II, Studio K both celebrate anniversaries By Trista Thurston

A version of this story was originally published in Mon Valley Magazine on May 27, 2022.

store has grown through the years, but Bob says the current iteration is how it’s looked for the past 25 years.

The remnants of Charleroi’s days as a bustling shopping destination still speckle the borough, and no shop does it better than Emporium II.

As merchandise has changed over the years, Kosh has tried to remain ontrend. When Bob first started Emporium II, he sold water beds and frames. Eventually, the shop morphed into offering more home goods, with gift items, candles, tapestries and the like. Now, clothing and jewelry make up most of his stock. All of Pittsburgh’s professional sports teams’ apparel is proudly displayed, alongside items for kids, women, men and body piercings. The shop was even once a tattoo studio for a time.

That bright red awning with an illuminated sign and lightbulb arrow pointing directly to the store’s entrance reminds customers of an era just beyond the present. Still, the offerings and wares at Emporium II are wholly modern. It has remained in the capable hands of Mon Valley native Bob Kosh for 50 years. And just down the road, Kosh’s niece Karen Kosh owns her own business, Studio K. The studio just celebrated 20 years of continuous operation. Both the Kosh’s stories are of gratitude for the supportive community that’s kept both of their businesses going, even amid a global pandemic that shuttered them for a time. “Out of the ashes comes the Emporium,” says Bob. Bob tells me that his current space used to be split into five different storefronts and shows me an early photo of his shop, at the time no wider than the doorframe I just walked through. The

He started the store almost on a whim, ran with the idea and here he is, 50 good years later. Monessen-born and raised, Kosh said he opened the business in Charleroi because it was, at the time, the biggest shopping area in the valley. “(The valley) has been good to me. I’ve been good to it,” he says. Kosh says his success has come from being honest to customers, pricing items fairly and making sure people walk out of the door happy. His best marketing tactic is word of mouth from pleased patrons.

Than Thank T nk You Y u for Yo f r the fo Great Work G k Your Y Yo ur dedication and professionalism ionalism ism are truly appreciated.

Business still hasn’t rebounded to its pre-pandemic level, and he admits that the shutdown was particularly difficult, forcing him to sell a car to keep the bills paid. Still, Kosh remains hopeful. He emphasizes finding joy each day, a sentiment that has kept him optimistic and moving forward. Dedication is the key to a successful business. Those core values are what niece Karen gathered while working for her uncle. At one time or another, each of Bob’s family members, in turn, has worked at his shop. As Karen built her clientele for her current spot, a salon that does “everything but hair,” she worked at Emporium II. Bob’s success inspired Karen to open a Charleroi storefront just blocks away. And now, Bob’s sister, Deb, is an esthetician at Studio K. A sound, solid support system — not just of reliable employees and partners but also of clients — has kept Studio K running. “It takes a lot of time and patience. You’ve got to stay focused,” Karen said, adding, “and we have fun.” It’s clear to see where she got that idea. Emporium II is located at 709 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, and Studio K at 329 Fallowfield Ave.

Photos by Trista Thurston Interior and products available at Emporium II

Karen Kosh made this board to commemorate Emporium II’s 25th anniverssary

Congratulations! to the Kosh’s Family on their 25th and 55th Anniversaries!

From your Friends at the Charleroi Fire Department!

Photos by Trista Thurston Interior and services available at Studio K

Senator Camera Bartolotta proudly congratulates Studio K on 25 years—and The Emporium II on 55 years—of of family, community, and unforgettable Charleroi tradition.

CAMERA BARTOLOTTA H STATE SENATE H

Putting us First, Keeping Her Promises

PROUDLY SERVING WASHINGTON, GREENE, AND BEAVER COUNTIES.

PAID FOR BY CAMERA FOR SENATE