Pen Haven celebrated their Grand Opening of its new expanded store (same location as the old store) on Friday, September 5, 2003, and continued on Saturday and Sunday September 6-7, at 3730 Howard Avenue, Kensington, Maryland on the celebrated “Antique Row.”

Guest of Honor Friday evening was Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey S. Parker who joined in greeting guests and friends.
Bert and Louis sent invitations to customers in the immediate area, having expectations of a modest turnout, however by afternoon the crowds of people were literally waiting in line to enter the new store. Some customers had traveled from as far as New York and Florida with many local friends from Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and North Carolina.

Although Bert and company had flowing wine and cheese, and plenty of finger food, his wonderful vintage display cases were filled with vintage pens and ephemera making for a real treat for the visitors.

On Saturday and Sunday visitors brought in their own collections to show as well. Len Griffen brought his Sheaffer collection for show and tell, Joe Nemecek brought his rare pencil and demonstrator collection and Bruce Chessan brought in some of his Conklin collection. Miriam Halpern attended, she is a professional calligrapher and teacher and exhibited her beautiful illuminations. She showed her other magnificent documents, the quills and quill cutting tools she uses.

Bert plans to schedule seminars and lectures in his store on Thursday and Friday evenings. These seminars will cover pen restorations, repairs, pen identification and calligraphy.

Pen Haven has expanded to almost three times larger, and is more elegant than the previous store. The new store now carries more than 1,000 vintage and new writing instruments, inkwells, desk sets, and many accessories in the seven display cases and cabinets. The spacious walls were lined with rare pen ads and pen art for sale. There is more seating so that customers may experience writing with an array of fountain pens, or they can browse through the many books available for sale.

Berton Heiserman established Pen Haven in 1989 in an historic building, built about 1880 to house the original train station, and later the Kensington Post Office. Pen Haven started as a part-time business where Bert spent Monday through Friday in pursuit of his then current profession as an architect.

Today, Pen Haven is a full-time business, but the store is open only on weekends where Bert, and his partner, Louis Wofsy are busy assisting customers. Monday through Friday is now spent repairing and restoring approximately fifty vintage fountain pens.

Pen Haven website can be visited at www.penhaven.com
Phone 301.929.0955