Business & Tech

Moorestown Mom Fires Up New Business in Lenola

Fire and Glaze, a new paint-your-own pottery studio in Lenola, opened this past weekend.

In the midst of discussions about redevelopment in Lenola, one young business owner is hoping her new venture can be a part of that revitalization.

Janee Tabaco’s Fire and Glaze, a paint-your-own pottery studio on Camden Avenue next to White House, is the first business the former stay-at-home mom has ever owned. The shop opened on Saturday.

Tabaco had been thinking about starting a business for the last few years, and her husband was supportive of the idea.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“He wanted to do something for our family,” said Tabaco. “We figured opening up our own business would be the best thing, because we can let our kids inherit it when we’re done.”

Plans for an ice cream and hot dog stand were abandoned early on—the prospect of dealing with health inspectors and food regulations intimidated Tabaco—in favor of something simpler and more personal.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Tabaco said she painted her own pottery often as a child, a hobby she picked up from her mother.

“I grew up with pottery,” she said. “It’s relaxing. My mom came and helped me do all the display pieces, and she would just sit here and be extremely quiet. It’s like that for most people who come in here, even children … It’s fun.”

Upon entering the quaint shop—a former landscaper’s office—patrons can select a piece, which include trinket boxes shaped like cupcakes, travel coffee mugs, planters, plates and piggy banks. The prices range from $5-$40, depending on the size of the piece.

From there, customers choose from roughly 70 colors of paint and get to work decorating their piece of pottery using various methods, from basic paintbrushes to sea sponges and “bubble paint” (a technique that combines paint with dish soap to create unique designs).

The painting takes between one to two hours (depending on how creative you want to get). The customer leaves, Tabaco glazes the piece, fires it in the kiln, and voila! You’ve got a piece of homemade art you can store your Q-tips in, eat off of or simply admire. The whole process can take up to five to seven days. 

Though her customers to date have ranged in age, Tabaco expects the concept will really take off with children.

“There’s some kind of satisfaction when a child comes in and picks their own piece, gets to paint it, and sees the outcome when it’s all completed … They get to have it forever—if they don’t drop it on the way out,” she joked.

Tabaco said she’s hoping to connect with local schools, potentially for field trips and/or classroom visits.

The shop is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Walk-ins are welcome and appointments are not necessary, except for birthday parties. Call 856-316-0909 or 856-380-0722, or email info@fireandglaze.com for more information.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here