Peachie passes glass torch

The going-out-of-business sale is over at Peachie’s Stained Glass. The 23-year-old establishment isn’t closing; it’s just changing hands. The colorful shop in South Superior was sold to a new owner, Shannon Johnson, last week.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Linette Rasmussen, co-owner of nearby Fuller’s Family Restaurant. “I wish her all the best.”

“I love it,” said Jeanne Salveson, owner of Creative Image salon, another nearby shop. “I think Peachie has done a really good job in building the business.” To have someone else step in to keep the shop going, she said, is “awesome.”

Kathi “Peachie” Schmid will continue to own the building at 5904 Tower Ave., but it will become Shannon’s Stained Glassery.

“I’ve never owned a business before,” Johnson said. “There’s a whole bunch of things that I never expected to come up but I’ve just got the most incredible teachers in Gretchen and Peachie who are holding my hand. It’s a blessing.”

Johnson has been taking classes at Peachie’s for the past six years. To her, it is a colorful playground and a way to express herself.

“When I wanted some time away from the family this is one of the first things I did as this is something I can do myself, just to be a person,” Johnson said, and she wanted to keep that outlet available to others seeking to add color to their lives.

The state of the economy didn’t cause Schmid to sell. The business was doing well, but she and her husband were at a point in their lives where they wanted to slow down and retire.

“I’m a grandma now with three grandkids, so I wanted to spend more time with my grandkids,” Schmid said. “Also in my new direction I still am going to do home studio work.”

Even though her husband passed away recently, Schmid said retiring is something he would have wanted her to do. She was happy when Johnson stepped up to take over the store.

“We worked pretty hard with Shannon so this could work because it is my baby,” Schmid said, “and it’s nice to see what I built and grew … continue on.”

New crates of glass are expected this week, and the first class under the new owner is set for Black Friday. Demonstrations of the bottle slumping workshop take place every half hour throughout the day, an escape from the hustle of holiday buying. Participants are asked to bring a clean, dry wine bottle, which will be transformed into a decorative cheese board.

The store will continue to offer classes, finished glass pieces and stained glass supplies. Schmid will still be a presence at the shop.

“I’m not quitting doing glass,” she said. “I will be doing a lot of the custom work that comes into this store and do some teaching for her.”

An open house Saturday is designed to help pass the torch.

“Kind of a chance for everyone to not necessarily say goodbye to Peachie, just thanks, thanks for starting this business, thanks for the 23 years you’ve given us,” Johnson said, and a time for folks to meet the new owner.

“I wish Peachie well, as she begins this next chapter in her life,” said Lorraine Peterson, owner of the Shabby Shed. “She will be missed.”

More information on Shannon’s Stained Glassery, including a full class schedule, is available online at www.peachiesstainedglass.com. A new site for Shannon’s Stained Glassery is in the works. Class schedules are also available at the shop, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

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