A former English teacher with family roots in both art and small business has opened a new creative studio in downtown Pennington, adding another locally owned storefront to the Borough’s evolving business district.
Canvas Moon, located next to Vito’s on North Main Street, officially celebrated its opening this week with a ribbon-cutting attended by local officials, residents, and members of Pennington’s business community.
The new studio offers art classes, open creative sessions, birthday parties and hands-on activities designed for children, families, and adults.
For owner Nicolette Hankh, the business represents the merging of several lifelong passions.
“I just woke up one day and said, ‘I’m gonna open an art studio,’” Hankh said with a laugh during the ribbon-cutting celebration.
Hankh previously taught in both Trenton and West Windsor before deciding to step away from the classroom after the birth of her daughter.
“In my heart, it was just like, ‘I’m not done. There’s something else I need to do,’” she said.
Inspired by family
Creativity has long been part of Hankh’s family life.
Her grandparents were artists and jewelers whose basement studio became a central part of her childhood.
“My grandma would do watercolors, and she would teach us all these things,” Hankh said. “They were jewelers too, so we learned how to make jewelry. It was amazing.”
Entrepreneurship also runs in the family. Hankh’s parents owned Udo’s Bagels in Lawrenceville, and the business is now operated by her siblings.
“I feel like it all kind of came together,” she said.
After beginning the search for a location, Hankh said several opportunities fell through before she stumbled across the available Pennington storefront while taking what she jokingly called “a walk of defeat.”
“I walked past what was Poppy’s, and there was a for rent sign here,” she said.
She credits the building owner and neighboring businesses with helping bring the project to life.
“Every store has been so amazing. Every owner has been so amazing,” Hankh said. “It’s family here.”
Part of a changing downtown
The opening comes during a period of renewed activity in downtown Pennington, where several previously vacant storefronts have recently filled with new independent businesses.
Jason Meyer, chair of the Pennington Economic Development Commission, said the opening reflects the type of business environment Borough officials hope to cultivate.
“Pennington is about being walkable. Pennington is about being entrepreneurial,” Meyer said during the ribbon cutting. “Pennington is about families of all kinds.”
The Planning Board this week formally adopted Pennington Borough’s new Master Plan, which for the first time includes a dedicated economic development and commercial element focused on supporting local businesses and strengthening the downtown district.
Meyer said businesses like Canvas Moon help define Pennington’s identity.
“Our businesses and our business districts, especially our town center, make Pennington a community as opposed to a subdivision,” Meyer said. “When we walk, we have somewhere to walk to. We see our neighbors and interact with them.”
He added that the Borough’s smaller scale and walkability naturally support independently owned businesses over large retailers.
“It creates a great opportunity and home for entrepreneurial businesses,” Meyer said.
Building community through art
At its core, Hankh said she hopes Canvas Moon becomes more than simply an art studio.
“I just want a place where people feel happy and comfortable and create something beautiful,” she said.
The studio currently offers classes throughout the week along with weekend open-play sessions and private events including birthday parties, bridal showers and baby showers.
But Hankh said the biggest reward so far has been watching people connect.
“People have just been meeting each other here who are literally neighbors,” she said. “And I love that.”
More information about Canvas Moon, including classes and hours, is available at The Canvas Moon.
