CHANDLER, Ariz. — PIP Coffee + Clay, a popular ceramics/pottery studio and coffee shop, has officially opened its new Chandler location at 44 W. Erie St. The multi-use space houses a cafe and ceramics studio and offers a variety of wheel throwing classes and hand building workshops. It also includes The Pearl, a small resale boutique featuring designer, vintage and upcycled clothing. PIP Chandler is the third location for PIP Coffee + Clay, joining other stores in Phoenix and Tempe.
The project was years in the making and a labor of love for owners Mara Friedman and KC Bonnem. After a long search that started in 2022, they found their dream Chandler location in a quirky property just north of downtown. First developed in the late 1930s with a small adobe house, it was built over multiple phases, eventually becoming an approximately 3,300-square-foot, mixed-use property with a midcentury modern house and attached retail component. The house and grounds were in a sorry state when Mara and KC first visited, but they saw potential and wanted to breathe new life into it. They purchased the property in early 2023 and got to work on turning their dream location into reality.
“We wanted to be in the East Valley, but we couldn’t find the right place,” said Friedman. “When the house popped up, it felt like the stars aligned. It was the right size, in a great part of Chandler, right across the street from Chandler High—and it was quirky enough for us.”
Thanks to their original location in Phoenix, Mara and KC had already gained valuable experience with adaptive reuse projects. Back in 2019, they purchased a 3,000-square-foot, 1950s era office building that required extensive tenant improvements. It opened about two years later in 2021, quickly became a success, and gave them confidence they could do the same in Chandler. For the Chandler property, they kept as much of the original, historic character as possible while modernizing and beautifying it. The extensive list of upgrades included plumbing, electrical, windows, doors, HVAC, fixing the roof, shoring up structural issues, removing accessory buildings, and a new parking lot.
“PIP Coffee + Clay has done a great job of reimagining and transforming this property,” said Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. “We are excited to see this creative business now open in Chandler and wish them great success.”
“Adaptive reuse projects like PIP Coffee + Clay are important to Chandler’s continued economic vitality,” said Micah Miranda, Chandler’s Economic Development Director. “Bringing new activity to this location can help spur additional investment in the surrounding area.”
Visit PIP Coffee + Clay for more information on workshops, classes, and store hours.
Media contact:
Stephanie Romero
City of Chandler, Public Information Officer
480-782-2231