member {spotlight}: Kirby's Flowers and Gifts Portsmouth, OH

In the early 1930's William "Pop" of Kirby's Flowers and Gifts had the exterior walls of the shop covered with squares of burgundy and tan Vitrolite, a decorative glass known as the "architectural darling" of the 1920's and 30's. 86 years later the shop, now run by granddaughter Elisa Kirby-Valli and her cousin John Kirby Jr., is still going strong. Unfortunately, the unique Vitrolite walls were not and had to be removed. Elisa was determined to put the walls back the same way her grandfather had them. She searched the world over looking for the Vitrolite material that has not been produced in over half a century. After an exhausting search, Elisa found a Vitrolite specialist that salvages the material from structures being demolished. After countless hours of hard work the storefront now has returned to its original glow.

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