Senselesspgh, at 5124 Penn Ave., celebrated its anniversary in late July.

By Joe Reuben, Bulletin contributor
In today’s environment, when any small business owner in the city can make it to the eight-year mile marker for their enterprise, it should be a cause for celebration.
Such was the case for Romier and Javed Watson, two brothers who’ve put all of their energy into a vintage and top-line sports apparel shop they started from scratch in 2017. On July 18th, they invited friends and neighbors to lift a toast to “Senseless”, the store that’s been their labor of love at 5124 Penn.
As most who travel the Penn Avenue corridor know, the past couple of years have not been kind to any business owner or arts-related entrepreneur between Graham and Mathilda streets. The commercial district has been crippled by two major construction projects undertaken by Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority and Peoples Gas. It’s only been in late July that the block where Senseless is located has emerged from a seemingly endless string of street closings.
The Watson brothers have not been ones to complain. They had the foresight to build a strong on-line presence for their business that has them catering to customers from all over the country, so when their walk-in trade started to tail off, they had something to fall back on.
“We’re grateful to our customers and to those here in the Garfield and other East End neighborhoods who’ve stuck it out with us,” Romier Watson commented recently to The Bulletin.”They always say that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, and we feel that pretty much applies to our situation. Now that all of the construction work is wrapping up, customers will be able to drop in and visit us, and the other businesses in our block, once more.”
Garland Walker, a former Garfield resident and current board president of Garfield Jubilee Association, was one of those attending the party at Senseless last month. “I’m proud of what Romier and Javed have done with this store”, he commented. “They have done everything the right way, and are a couple of the nicest guys you’re ever likely to meet. If you couple their positive attitude with the dedication they’ve shown to the task at hand, it’s not hard to understand why they’re having success.”
Neighboring businesses like Workshop PGH, Two Frays Brewery, Mary’s Bar, and The Black Cat Market are all hoping for a major bounceback once Peoples Gas has finished repaving the section of Penn Avenue roadway that’s been torn up since August of last year.