Tucker has more than its fair share of small, family-owned businesses. One such business has been operating on Hugh Howell Road for the past 20 years.
“We’ve become a family here,” explained Danny Liska, co-owner of Pinehill Awards.
Liska and his wife Rebecca own and operate Pinehill, providing trophies, medals and engraving services to the community. Although they’ve been in the Tucker location since 2001, the business itself dates to the mid-1970s, when a family member began screen printing out of his home in Conyers. Eventually, Danny expanded the business to include trophies, and they’ve since grown the operation into one of metro Atlanta’s premier trophy shops.
Like many businesses, Pinehill was rolling along before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In a recent video for the City, the Liskas described how federal CARES Act money helped them to survive the downturn.
“Twenty nineteen was a great year. It was actually our best year ever. January and February of 2020 were our best months ever,” Rebecca Liska recalled. “March hit and everything stopped.”
They said things like corporate events, sports leagues, school awards and family reunions were all cancelled, forcing them to pause their business.
“We lost about 60 percent of our business during the pandemic,” Rebecca said. “Income decreased, however expenses like rent, insurance, utilities, all of those things stayed the same. So, we’re using the [CARES Act] money to pay for those costs that haven’t decreased like our sales have.”
With the distribution of vaccines hopefully helping the pandemic to turn a corner, the Liskas are now faced with another big change: a move. The building the business has occupied for the past two decades was recently sold, leading the couple to look for a new location. The plan, they said, is to move into space just down the street on Hugh Howell. In reality, they could move the business anywhere. Rebecca Liska, however, says they wouldn’t dream of leaving Tucker.
“We love living and working in Tucker and we wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
“Tucker’s going to be our place,” Danny added. “We know who’s coming in, their history, problems, celebrations. That’s the main thing, you know, is the celebrations. The stuff that they do, and you get to know people, you become connected that way.”
Until they move, Pinehill Awards is located at 4297 Hugh Howell Road. You can find them online at www.pinehillawards.com.
