RSVP gift shop celebrates new ownership, plans Greensburg location

RSVP, the gift shop that’s been on Route 30 in Hempfield since 2010, celebrated new beginnings this week as its new owners eye a second location in downtown Greensburg.

The store held a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon to mark the change in ownership and the store’s recent membership in the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Elizabeth Snowman, Merill Varchetti and Suzanne Ward purchased the boutique in January from previous owners Carol Vallozzi and Susan Snowman.

Elizabeth Snowman used to work for the store under her mom, Susan Snowman. She said she was initially nervous about stepping into the ownership role after her mom and Vallozzi retired, but that it has worked out well so far.

“At first I was leery of it, I wasn’t used to being an owner,” she said.

The shop sells gifts, invitations and decor. Varchetti said she’d been a regular customer for several years before Ward approached her about potentially purchasing the business.

“We want to build on what’s here, and build on Susan and Carol’s legacy,” she said.

Their first big move will be opening a second location. They plan to open an RSVP in downtown Greensburg this year, Ward said.

They have a location in mind, but have not closed the deal, Ward said. The building will be owned by City Cribs LLC, a company Ward co-owns with Ward, her husband Mike Ward, Jeff Begonia and Tim Zontek.

City Cribs already owns two large commercial properties in downtown Greensburg. The new RSVP location will be the third.

Ward said the current location attracts customers from Hempfield, Latrobe and Ligonier, while a Greensburg location could draw from other parts of Westmoreland County.

“Both locations will draw people in,” she said.