A downtown State College store that has served generations of Penn State students and community members has closed after nearly 50 years in business.
House of Kashmir, 130 E. Calder Way, shut its doors on March 10. Since 1976, the shop was a hub for T-shirts, posters, vintage-style clothing, tapestries, posters, incense and jewelry.
“My family and I hold so many great memories there but it’s time to close that chapter,” owner Saghir Ahmad wrote in a recent Instagram post. “I’m grateful for all the wonderful customers and friends I made through the stores and being part of the small business community in State College for many years.”
Ahmad said on Wednesday that his retirement comes as State College Borough plans for the eventual demolition of the Pugh Street Parking Garage, where his store resided on the lower level. At 53-years-old, the garage is past its life expectancy, borough officials have said, and it is expected to be torn down within the next three years.
While no plans have been finalized, the most recent public discussion for its replacement has centered on construction of a new garage on the current McAllister Deck site before the Pugh garage is razed. A concept plan for a new performing arts center on the current Pugh garage site has been floated, but no decisions have been made on that front either.
Ahmad and his shop have become fixtures there over the decades, with the children and even grandchildren of previous customers frequenting the business.
“Grandparents come and say ‘Yeah I used to shop here 1970s. This is amazing,’” Ahmad said. “I love State College. The people, the students. They graduated and they still come to visit me. Some people were crying [before the shop closed]… I said ‘This is life. We keep moving on.’
Though he’s still in the process of cleaning out the store, Ahmad plans to relax in retirement while he and his wife remain in State College. His children are grown, and he owns a rental property in the borough that he plans to continue leasing to tenants.
Ahmad is originally from New York City and is a law school graduate, but settling in State College he found joy in his life’s work with the House of Kashmir.
“It is a very good town yeah and wherever I go people know me,” he said. “I love State College. The people are very nice. I just love the simple life.
“I’m very happy and very healthy.”
