Latrobe's new party venue hopes to 'bring some culture'

Flamingo selfie walls and California-style lounge rooms aren’t commonplace in downtown Latrobe.

That’s exactly why Emily Pasqualino included them in her new party venue.

Pasqualino wants to “bring something different” with The Paper Heart Social Goods and Event Studios, a Ligonier Street business that serves as a venue space, shop and Airbnb.

“I want it to be a destination,” Pasqualino said.

Pasqualino and her husband, Greg, officially opened The Paper Heart’s doors last week.

The two-story building features three venues for “intimate gatherings” of under 40 people. The first floor, which is reminiscent of “old Florida,” houses the business’s shop, one venue and a kitchenette, while the California-themed second floor includes two additional venues, a kitchen and lounge room.

The one-bedroom Airbnb is located on The Paper Heart’s bottom floor.

Eventually, Pasqualino wants to host ticketed events – such as farm-to-table dinners, Derby parties and poetry readings – in the building.

“There’s not much to do for adults in downtown Latrobe,” she said. “We want to bring some culture to the town.”

The Pasqualinos bought the Ligonier Street building in June 2021.

It was previously home to a doctor’s office, shoe store, tailor shop and, most recently, the Hope Center, a church outreach center that shut its doors in 2020.

After nearly a year of renovations, The Paper Heart was ready to greet guests. It’s an expansion of Paper Heart Affairs, the family’s Main Street party supply shop that closed last year.

Pasqualino believes the new business offers a different look and experience than Paper Heart Affairs.

“We stuck with the light, bright and the fun, but we leveled up our inventory and we were a lot more thoughtful and conscious about the types of products we have in the store and who we were getting them from,” Pasqualino said.

Those interested in using The Paper Heart’s services can find information on the business’s Facebook page.

Soon, the business will have an updated calendar on its website where patrons can book services.