Marlene Schraut assists loyal customer Kris Schwarz and her granddaughter, Lauren, as they paint their final ceramic pieces at Pik a Pot n Paint. The business recently announced it would be closing its doors, another one due to COVID-19. Full story and another photo inside.
By Julia Locanto
For The Elmhurst Independent
Elmhurst’s Pik a Pot n Paint ceramic studio is closing after 22 years of business. After closing in March due to Covid-19, it became difficult to keep up with bills, owner Marlene Schraut said. Marlene and her husband Don are sad to close it, but grateful for the overwhelming loyalty of their customers.
“It’s bittersweet,” Marlene said. “But we’ve been very lucky.”
The ‘pottery playground’ offers an everchanging variety of ceramic pieces to be painted by customers. Once the creations are done, employees place them in a kiln to finish them. Pik a Pot n Paint also hosts birthday parties and other events, such as baby showers or bridal parties.
The Schraut’s ceramic studio started out as no more than a hobby. They had owned and leased the property at 915 S York Rd. for 40 years. When their current tenant, a childcare center, left the property, Don suggested using it for themselves.
Marlene attended her niece’s birthday party at a ceramic painting studio and realized just how much she loved the idea. Since she studied art in college, she felt like a ceramic store would be the perfect fit.
“We just wanted to do it for our own enjoyment,” Marlene said.
After shopping for pieces and taking a class on ceramics, the Schrauts were ready to open. Marlene said Pik a Pot n Paint wasn’t busy at first, but after the official grand opening, things changed.
“It took off like wildfire,” she said. “The line went around the block.”
With help from their family, the Schrauts began their journey to success. Marlene assisted customers and painted while Don ran the kilns. They built up a loyal following, along with dedicated employees, including their son and daughter. Marlene said she put everything she had into the business.
“When we first started, I did everything but sleep there for seven days a week,” she said. “It was our life.”
Customers began coming in regularly, especially children. Locals would come in every year to make gifts or holiday ornaments. Over the course of 22 years, the Schrauts built strong relationships within the community.
Marlene said she watched kids grow from children to young adults as they continuously came to Pik a Pot n Paint. One employee even said she has seen children come in when they were 5 years old, and later saw them as they were going away to college.
Loyal customer Kris Schwarz said she is taking all of her grandchildren to the studio one last time.
“We call it ‘date day’,” she said. “We come here so much, half of the ceramics they have already painted!”
As a staple of the Elmhurst community, the studio was constantly busy. Marlene said as the years went on, she was able to slow down a bit and trust her dedicated staff to take care of things. She credits their success to the motto of Pik a Pot n Paint: treat customers the way they would want to be treated. That is what it has always been about, Marlene said.
“We wanted people to have fun and enjoy themselves,” she said. “It wasn’t about the money.”
However, when COVID-19 hit, things took a turn and it had to be about money. It was hard to run a small business and lose income, Marlene said. Pik a Pot n Paint closed in March and couldn’t open again until Aug. 5. Marlene said when they reopened, she and Don knew it was the end.
Their loyal customers were not done yet though, and continued to come in. Schwarz said her grandchildren want to paint one more piece as presents for their parents. The studio is open three days a week now from 12-6 p.m.
“They all want to come in for one more memory,” Marlene said.
Closing the store was a long time coming for the Schrauts. Business had dropped off, and although it wasn’t what they wanted, Marlene said COVID-19 was the final push.
“I feel very sad,” she said. “I really love doing it. Every time I paint, I still get excited to see how it’s going to turn out.”
Despite the emotional end, the Schrauts have 22 years of memories that Marlene said they will always look back on fondly.
They plan to close by the end of the year.
