Know where to look

With Valentines Day fast approaching, a small town shop with hometown ties offers inventive gift ideas.  

Mug and Pia, an acronym for Most Unique Gifts and Paper Items Anywhere, is located on 939 3rd Ave. 

"The whole thing started because I love to travel," said Kim Sarka Lake, owner of Mug and Pia. "When we used to go we'd visit little homegrown stores with a whole bunch of charm and cute gift ideas. I kept telling my husband there should be one here, and finally I just did it." 

Mug and Pia offers a number of products including trollbeads.

Trollbead originated in Denmark, and are handcrafted from the finest quality raw materials. Collectors can choose from more than 500 interchangeable beads, according to trollbeadus.com. 

Mug and Pia also offer a number of paper products, such as handwritten paper designs, invitations, cards, bridal invitations and personalized stationary. 

"Paper is not dead, I think that's peoples' first mistake," Lake said. "People still use letter head." 

For the holidays, the store offers an assortment of gift baskets, especially for Valentines Day.

"You probably won't find anything in here anywhere else," Lake said. "Our products range from cute stuffed animals and baby clothes to ceramic decorative plates. I don't sell anything, I wouldn't buy myself."

Business is in Lake's blood as her father owns Sarka-Kauffmann's Jewelry store just blocks away from Mug and Pia.

"We need businesses here, not only for the school but for the community," Lake said. "I'm glad to bring in as much business into the community as I can." 

Lake said she is pleased with the way business has gone so far since it opened in April 2008.

"I can keep the lights on," she said. "I'm finally starting to see a return, so that's a good thing."

Jackie Jaegle, Marshall University graduate student from Georgia, said she loves how charming the store is.

"There are three words on the wall, Live, Laugh, Love," Jagele said. "That's the type of appeal, this place has." 

Mug and Pia is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

  Breanna Jones can be contacted at jones435@marshall.edu.