EPOCA

SHOPTALK with Susanna Salk

“I’m always looking for the next great object, I can’t help myself,” admits Eric Petsinger of his passion for buying antiques and 20th century pieces for his San Francisco shop epoca. “I occasionally even feel like Lucy Ricardo when my office manager, Virginia, waives an invoice for a recent purchase asking, ‘Did I know about this?!’” With epoca already celebrating its fifth year anniversary, Petsinger can’t believe how quickly time has passed since he started.

After leaving the world of finance, (“I ended up working for a Boston financial services company for 11 years and all I can say is thank goodness someone else enjoys reading spread sheets!” and packing up his Volkswagen with his Great Dane “Salem” in the back seat, Petsinger drove 3,000 miles and dreamed of im-mersing himself in design. “After arriving in San Francisco, I tried a semester at design school and studied furniture restoration with two lovable but slightly wacky French antique dealers,” remem-bers Petsinger. “If clients looked around their shop, the pair would scolded them with: ‘This is not a museum!’”

Nothing as really clicking until Petsinger arrived at the doorstep of renowned dealer Ed Hardy and was hired. Nine years there prov-ed the best education possible. “I will forever be thankful for that experience,” says Petsinger, “I would certainly not be doing what I am today if not for my time there: I learned finishes, the best rest-orers, and not to mention met the most talented interior designers.”

When it was finally time to break out on his own, there were days of serious apprehension. “Luckily I have a partner who put things into perspective,” says Petsinger with a smile. He told me: ‘It’s not as if you’re going into a business you know nothing about – not like finance!’”

In 2003, epoca, (so named because Petsinger wanted to use his initials but also reflect his diverse inventory from all “epochs”), opened its doors in a 1,500 square foot showroom at the corner of 16th and Kansas streets. Three years later, they moved to their current 4,500 square foot space just a few feet away. Jokes Petsinger: “Thus our opening party tagline: ‘We’re working the other corner.’” The comfortable layout allows for the creation of vignet-tes and blending traditional antiques with 20th century furnishings. “I always feel quite pleased when people say that the space feels like a home,” says Petsinger.

As he encourages people to ex-periment in their own rooms, Pet-singer always leaves the doors open at epoca for those who seek inspiration and encouragement. “All are welcome here. Don’t worry if you don’t know furniture periods and dates. Just have fun exploring and discovering what you like. "

EPOCA:

1700 16th street,
at Kansas
San Francisco,
CA 94103.

T: 415. 864. 6895
F: 415.864.6893

www.epocasf.com
info@epocasf.com