Susan Merkel is the founder of Curio No. 7, a creative business that blends furniture restoration, hospitality, literature, and community gathering into a unique and evolving vision.

Raised in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, Susan spent many years living throughout Philadelphia, including South and West Philadelphia. Her professional foundation began in the hospitality industry, where she developed a deep appreciation for the role that thoughtfully designed spaces play in bringing people together.

Susan is a graduate of Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where she studied Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management. Throughout her career, she worked in a variety of restaurant settings and, alongside her husband Ben, served in restaurant management roles. These experiences provided hands-on knowledge in operations, customer service, team leadership, event planning, and creating welcoming environments for guests.

Over the years, Susan expanded her interests beyond hospitality into retail, community engagement, literature, and furniture restoration. She operated a pop-up shop in Saint Peters Village, gaining firsthand experience in merchandising, customer relationships, and small business ownership.

Her love of books and storytelling led her to work at the Pottstown Regional Public Library, where she further explored the power of community spaces and lifelong learning. The library experience reinforced a belief that gathering places can nourish people intellectually, creatively, and socially.

These varied experiences ultimately came together in Curio No. 7.

Today, Curio No. 7 encompasses restored furniture, curated home décor, literary gatherings, workshops, and immersive community experiences. Drawing from a background in hospitality, retail, libraries, and craftsmanship, Susan creates spaces and events that encourage curiosity, connection, and meaningful conversation.

As Curio No. 7 continues to grow, Susan is exploring opportunities to expand the concept into a permanent home—one that may combine elements of a bookshop, gathering space, creative workshop, and hospitality venue. Her vision is rooted in a simple idea: the places we inhabit shape our stories, and the most memorable spaces invite us to slow down, connect, and feel at home.

Susan currently lives in the Pottstown area with her husband and two daughters, where she continues to restore furniture, develop community programming, and build the next chapter of Curio No. 7.