In 1978, Pepe & Maureen "surfaced for air", so to speak, left the basement and purchased 404 Queen St. W....securing a workspace/retail situation on busy Queen St. West, with living quarters above.
Pressures of a hefty mortgage gave motivation & challenge to their task ahead: "How to Operate (Invent?) a Handcrafted Jewellery Business in 1978 Downtown Toronto"!  By slowly improvising tools, building furniture and recycling most-anything...a life of intense creativity & challenging problem-solving was set in motion.

QUEEN ST.WEST: 

A 'Period of Transition' at this time...in the midst of change from its downtown Toronto's post-WWII commercial identity as a centre for dressmaking supplies (hats, buttons, fabric, sewing machines), tool & machinery parts and second-hand books....TO.....the new arts & crafts, trendy restaurant & fashion retail identity of the 1980's! Pepe & Maureen enjoyed the opportunity to experience & contribute to the historic changes taking place on Queen St. West at this time!

In 1980, while still attending craft shows and considering Queen St. their primary location, they opened a 2nd small retail store at 71 McCaul St., in Village By The Grange, a newly built condo-retail-office complex at Dundas & McCaul St. (across from the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) & OCA (Ontario College of Art). This location bordered on Toronto's Chinatown and was situated only blocks away from University Ave.'s business district of consulates, hospitals, bank, government & insurance towers.

The multi-faceted experience of business life in downtown Toronto continued to gratify Pepe & Maureen's insatiable curiosity and imagination. This multi-cultural environment of contrasting images nurtured their creative needs and led to the next important decision: to consolidate both locations into one, larger store in the intriguing 'URBAN VILLAGE' by the Grange!

2. LOCATION: 89 McCAUL ST. (Village By The Grange) 1982-1989

In 1982, Pepe & Maureen sold their building on Queen St. West and moved to an apartment & enlarged retail space in Village By The Grange again, with jewellery studio on the store premises and living quarters only steps away. Within the stimulating business atmosphere of downtown Toronto's University Ave., they opened an elegant jewellery shop, with beautiful MALTESE TERRIER, 'Scruffy', fulfilling the important role of 'Acting Director of Public Relations'!

Pepe & Maureen would like to extend a SINCERE THANKS to the many members of sales staff as well as the two, talented, full-time employees at the jewellery bench, whose personal interest & conscientious effort contributed so much to the development of Pepe & Maureen Ltd. throughout these years!

MATERIALS: STERLING SILVER and (the beginning of) GOLD.

TECHNIQUES: (1) fabrication techniques, including soldering, piercing, forging, planishing (2) casting  (3) inlay of royal blue semi-precious gemstone LAPIS LAZULI (from CHILE & AFGHANISTAN)

DESIGNS: 

(1) sterling silver designs with LAPIS LAZULI inlay: rings, pendants, earrings

(2) handmade sterling silver jewellery, such as: forged bangles, chains, earrings… and rings, earrings & pendants with ass't bezel-set semi-precious stones.
(3) sterling silver handmade one-of-a-kind items, such as: letter openers, key chains, book marks, spoons, woven baskets, etc.
INCOME: In these years, Pepe & Maureen sold either at Canadian Craft Shows or directly from their studio at Queen St. W. or Village By The Grange. Their jewellery was also sold at various Canadian Art Gallery Shops, in Winnipeg, London and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto.

...click here for PART III