Karen's Hallmark Shop — Local services in Pittsburgh

This is not a place you go if you're planning a "shopping trip." Truthfully, if that's your intention it's a good idea to avoid downtown PGH altogether; it's just not set up for that.

I work downtown in the building. Now, working in this building is kinda cool. The second floor is almost entirely to the shopping mall style "food court." Subs, burgers, pizza: the usual faire. However, it's unlikely you'll recognize the names of any of these "fast food" joints - I sure don't, with the exception of Au Bon Pain. Everything else (at least to me) reminds me of a movie or television set where they can't explicitly put the brand names on anything without paying that company. So, you'll see an actor taking a thirst quenching gulp from a can of "Classic Cola" (red & white can, of course) or a swig of "nowheiser" brand beer.

Now, just apply that idea to nearly every place in a mall sized food court & Viola! Now you've captured the essence of the place.

First floor has an Avenue retail clothing store, a little shop with magazines, candy bars...little impulse buys for people coming or going- generally who work in the building.

The ever ubiquitous Katie's Candy has a location here along with a little gemstone store, florist, Vision Works and a guy that sells comically overpriced portraits of downtown Pittaburgh, Pens & Steelers games.....you get the...

The one thing I love about Laurie's Hallmark is that they will send you coupons every so often for being our customer. And this is the only homework that I have seen do this on a monthly to quarterly schedule.

I think I just found another coupon from Laurie's not too long ago and came in to use it and they always have something for every season.

They have these great reversible bags here that are really well made and one color on the inside one color on the outside and extremely durable. I like them so much I bought two of them. They survived Greyhound and Transit well to the point that there's never a scratch on them. That's how well-made they are. And I believe they cost me $19.99 and it is even less...

The parking in this place is terrible. The spaces are too small for larger vehicles, the attendants are rude and they take no responsibility for any damage done to your car. The attendants ask you to leave your keys to your car but there is a huge sign that says that they are not responsible for damage done to your vehicle even when they are the ones who caused the damage by moving your vehicle. They ask you to park in spaces that are not fit for your car, never taking into account that the person parked next to you will have to get into their car and upon opening their car door will bang and damage your car door, again no will be responsible for this damage. Avoid this garage...