Grove City: More Than Meets the Eye
While Grove City, PA, may be best known for its outlet mall and namesake college, there’s a lot more to know about this historic town located just 60 miles north of Pittsburgh. Home to a jewelry store that showcases quality pieces fit for a museum as well as a historic forge that has been making milestone keepsakes for more than 100 years, attractions also include a thriving restaurant and libations scene.
History in the Making
Walking along historic South Broad Street, a must-stop is Joden Jewelers, which has been a Grove City institution for more than five decades. Home to the largest antique estate jewelry collection between Chicago and Philadelphia, Joden’s not only carries one-of-a-kind pieces but works of art as well.
“Our motto has held true for many years: You can go to a museum and look or you can come to us and touch,” explained owner Joe Murawski. “Typically, when people come here for the first time, we take them on a tour through the store, sharing some of our more renowned pieces.”
Joden’s features the world’s third largest collection of jewelry created by Carlo Giuliano, the favorite jeweler of Queen Victoria.
“His work is equivalent to Michelangelo,” said Murawski. “In London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, they have 17 pieces of his work. We have 35 pieces. If you know antique jewelry, you know how impressive this is.”
In addition to selling jewelry to the general public, Joden’s supplies other jewelers in 22 U.S. states and six European countries. They also manufacture jewelry in-house and repair and restore customer pieces.
For more than 103 years, Wendell August Forge — the oldest forge in America — has been marking milestones in people’s lives. Through its consumer products division, it provides artisan-designed wedding, baby and holiday gifts that have been treasured by families for years.
“Whether a couple is celebrating a 50-year anniversary or a brand-new baby, our artisans craft pieces that not only look beautiful, but are forged with passion and meaning,” said President, CEO and Owner Christian Werner, noting that the forge’s traditional customer is most often a western Pennsylvania family that has been touched by Wendell throughout the years. “Many people also collect our Christmas ornaments, and their families continue that holiday tradition.”
Forge products can be personalized, which Werner says is one of the reasons that they are so valued. “The quality stands for itself, but people also love that they can put their words or Bible verses or their nomenclature on the product,” he said, noting that approximately 75-80 percent of consumer products have some form of personalization.
Through its custom products division, the forge creates made-to-order products that clients use to showcase milestone events, such as a university’s anniversary or new stadium groundbreaking, and business service awards. Their client list includes Mercedes-Benz, Villanova University, the White House and the Vatican, DeWalt Tools, Old Milwaukee, IBW, Caterpillar and John Deere, among others.
“Last year was an iconic anniversary for Caterpillar, and we made a four-piece coaster set of their four different logos that was shipped to employees in 37 different countries,” said Werner.
“We also work with a lot of local businesses, including Slippery Rock University and Grove City College,” he added, noting that the best part of working in a small community is supporting one another. “The college just celebrated its 150th anniversary and commissioned products for their board of trustees, their bookstore and as endowment and student gifts."
Werner credited the company’s century of success to its skilled artisans and loyal workforce, some of whom are second- and third-generation employees.
“We’ve employed the grandsons and great-grandsons of people who worked here,” said Werner, noting that artisans go through a formal training program and apprenticeship on how to make and forge different items. He adds that as members of the U.S. Steelworkers, all items are proudly union made.
Dining and Drinking
According to Werner, visitors who come to Grove City are often surprised by the wealth of things it has to offer, including an impressive restaurant scene.
“I’m a big supporter of many of the restaurants in the region and love to show visitors what the town’s about,” he said. “I’m sure I’ve been seen at every restaurant in the area — and two or three coffee shops — from Timber Creek Tap & Table to Rachel’s Roadhouse, to North Country Brewing Company and The Tavern on the Square, among others.”
Brian Myers, owner of MLH Distillery, is also a huge supporter of local businesses.
“Blackout Burger Bar and Navarro’s Bar & Grill are two of my favorite restaurants, and I also encourage people to come to Grove City and have Tina’s Taxi take them to our two breweries, Big Rail Brewing and Smiling Moose Brewing, as well as Libations Winery and Derailed Distillery in Volant. It’s a great way to take a tour of Mercer County.”
MLH Distillery offers a tasting room as well as an outdoor area with picnic tables, fire pits and a stage for a band. Established in 2017, the distillery grew from 2,500 square feet to a 5,000-square-foot space since opening its doors. The distillery makes vodka, gin, liqueurs, rum and bourbon.
“Our first liqueur was made from coffee from a 100-year-old coffee company called Howe, which is down the street from us,” said Myers. “It’s been one of our best-selling products over the past seven years, I believe because of our collaboration with another local business.”
The company also makes a very popular silver spicy coconut rum, as well as bourbon and an “old-fashioned in a bottle,” according to Myers.
Originally started by four Grove City residents, the distillery is now run by Myers, his wife Tammy, and sons Dylan and Ryan. In addition to selling the product in Grove City, they also work with PA Libations to sell their product in the Strip District, Shadyside and Reading Terminal in Philadelphia. They also recently opened a second site in Harmony, PA, with Aviva Brick Oven.
Whether you’re going to Grove City to shop the outlets or to take a student to college, make sure to make time to visit all of the other attractions in the area. For more information on what to see and do, check out www.visitmercercountypa.com.
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