Many people don’t recognize the Castle Shannon business district as a shopping district. But between the street’s intersections with Shady Drive East and Scott Road, there are more than a dozen restaurants, shops and services open for business. Here are a few of them:

Luma
Owners Greg Ackerman and his wife, Leslie, feel that you have to be on-site to keep things running smoothly at their restaurant Luma, which they opened in 2007. ”We have a great staff, but people like to see the owner around and working,” said Ackerman. Leslie works weekdays and starts her day with a thorough cleaning.    Greg works weekends doing whatever needs to be done: greeting, waiting tables, offering cocktails, running food.

Ackerman said Luma’s menu features modern American food ”with a lot of global influence. We do Asian flank steak, Bay of Fundy salmon, ahi tuna, barramundi from Australia.” The restaurant’s outdoor back patio is open year-round, warmed in cold weather by radiant heaters.

Greg acknowledges that they used to be the big boy on the block, but in recent years have been joined by several restaurants. ”Now it’s a challenge when we share parking with the others. Some of our older clients complain when they have to park farther away.”

The Ackermans  believe their  combination of good food, service, ambiance, and price is key to their success. ”And we love Mt. Lebanon — it’s just a really nice area.”

The Grey Parrot
Natalie Lichtman opened this consignment shop last year with the help of her mother, Sheila Grenadier of James Place. The two have always loved shopping at thrift and consignment shops and thought the space at the corner of Castle Shannon Boulevard and Scott road would make an ideal location. Volunteers work with them to sort and price the goods, which are kept on the floor for 60 days. Owners can either
pick them back up then or they are donated to charity.

Lichtman stocks something for everyone. ”We have a whole backroom dedicated to men and boys. We see more and more teenagers shopping secondhand. The kids come in after school.”

Recently the store has expanded its offerings with an enlarged jewelry department, a pet department and designer clothes for men. She and Grenadier are planning to offer styling services.

”A lot of people feel their closets are outdated, but they don’t know how to dress or what to wear. My mom is an accessory person — handbags, jewelry, shoes. When people call ahead and ask for help finding a dress for a wedding, I have them ready in the fitting room for them to try on. We’re also going to be doing some styling events, both public and private.”

Needle & Bean
Coffee shops have myriad java offerings, but this one also features a side of vinyl music.

”I can get an Americano at any coffee shop in town, but I like a smooth cup of coffee,” said Michael Butala, Audubon Avenue, owner of Needle and Bean with his wife Irene. ”All these places are all slightly different. We’re kind of like the misfits that drink dark coffee and listen to records.”

With a background in international business, Butala opened Needle & Bean two years ago, starting off modestly. Now the shop has seven employees and features occasional live music inside and outside, as well as comedy shows.

”I love being on Castle Shannon Boulevard, away from Uptown. I go there often, but I live in Sunset Hills so there was no place to get coffee nearby when we opened,” Butala said.

He especially appreciates being in Mt. Lebanon. ”I grew up in a rural area, then lived in Chicago for a while, and that made me suspicious of people. But this is a real community. Everyone here has been so embracing, welcoming us with open arms. And I love the safety here.”

Salon La te Da
Salon La te Da started a new chapter this fall when longtime owners Bruce Harshman and Neill Stouffer sold it to Courtney Bills, a hair stylist who has worked there for
19 years.

”The good news is everything will remain the same under Courtney’s guidance,” said Harshman. ”I expect that she will do a magnificent job and take it into the future.”

For her part Bills said she’s thrilled to be at the helm. ”It’ll be business as usual,” she said. ”But I’ve got tons of ideas about working with the community and bringing in a new generation of stylists.” The salon has clients of all ages, ranging from 2-year-olds to women in their 30s to one lady who comes in every week at age 97.

Bills believes that the strength of the salon is how comfortable clients feel there. ”The women who work here are so kind and welcoming, from the receptionist to the stylists to the manicurist.”

She also marvels at the growth of the district along Castle Shannon Boulevard. ”When I started here, I was 19 years old and there was hardly anything around us. Now there’s a whole business district, and they’re all doing well. It’s a perfect location!

”I’m so excited to continue the legacy of Bruce and Neill. I hope everyone is excited. I’m a new fresh face, but someone who loves it and wants to keep it what it is.”

Garden Style Living
”We find things that other people think belong in the trash, but when you put them together with the right items, they become this one-of-a-kind thing,” said Mary Keebler, owner of Garden Style Living. ”We go shopping and we see things differently maybe than other people do, and we know we can make something special out of it.”

She’s referring to the work done by herself and her husband, Matthew, to find merchandise at estate sales, flea markets, even on street corners — everywhere they go, basically. ”You have to be full of energy and optimism to do this. Sometimes you spend hours behind the wheel and don’t find a damn thing!”

The shop sells vintage and antique pieces, many of them salvaged. ”We take a chance on things that aren’t perfect,” according to Keebler, Austin Avenue. ”My husband and I buy from the gut. We buy what we like, ranging from high-end traditional to picked off the street.”

After a stint in Shadyside, Keebler first opened in the Hitchhiker space in 2003, then moved to Peters Township for 16 years, and returned to a space next door to her former one. ”In 2003, this area was very sleepy. But now there’s a whole string of businesses around me, which is nice.”

She also has high praise for her customer base. ”Having done business in two other communities, I can say there were drawbacks. In Mt. Lebanon there are just no drawbacks! It’s never been as positive as it is here. It’s such a wonderful gift to be able to live in a great community and serve it as well.”