“We grew pretty fast, so there were lots of long days and nights. We’ve been very lucky over the years to have such a great team to help us and our customers.”
— Courtney Henderson
What happens when a mom and daughter duo have vision, style and drive? A small business grows quickly and becomes a staple in the Pensacola and Gulf Breeze communities.
Courtney Henderson and Viki (a.k.a. Sugar) Weir started with a dream 16 years ago and turned a small retail store into a bustling, local treasure, Pizzaz Home. Three years later, Sugarbabies joined the team. Together, the two storefronts make up a boutique gift shop and go-to among locals to find everything from decor, gifts, jewelry, PJs, toys, children’s clothes and much more.
Weir and her husband, Bob, have been married for 42 years. They raised their daughters Courtney and Katie in Gulf Breeze and currently live on Pensacola Beach.
When you meet Weir, you are drawn to her twinkling eyes and trendy, polished appearance. She is put together head to toe, and you immediately want to know where she got her outfit and accessories. (Most likely some of it is from Pizzaz!) If you spend any time at all with Weir, she will tell you the latest story about something her granddaughters said or accomplished, and you know right away her family is her first priority.
Daughter Courtney Henderson is a Gulf Breeze native and graduate of the University of Florida. She and her husband, Luke, have two beautiful girls, Henley (7) and Hadley (4). There is no doubt Henderson also inherited her mom’s beauty, style and a brain for business. She truly adores their little dream that has turned into a local treasure and the tight-knit community she and her family get to work, play and live in.
Pizzaz began in 2008 out of a shared for retail, gifts and a drive for owning their own business. Many years of traveling and seeing other boutiques inspired the idea to create their own. When an opportunity presented itself to open a small shop on a month-to-month lease they jumped on it and Pizzaz was born.
“Getting started, it’s always: How do you let people know you’re open?” Henderson said. “Plus, I was still working my sales job. We grew pretty fast, so there were lots of long days and nights. We’ve been very lucky over the years to have such a great team to help us and our customers.”
Henderson began learning how to use an embroidery machine, bringing an added dimension to the business, while Weir worked to source and order unique products to bring into the store. Opening a new business in the middle of a recession was risky, but they put every ounce of energy they had into making it work.
“Eleven months after we opened, the Moulton family invited us to their Seashell shopping center in Gulf Breeze where we doubled in size. Eleven months after that, we expanded into the space next door thanks to our community’s support,” said Courtney.
When you walk in the doors of Pizzaz, there is always something new to see. Every season of life is celebrated within the walls of this exquisite boutique. It is a go-to stop for anyone on your list and there are several things you can have engraved and personalized. Even though all the seasonal decor is magnificent, when you walk in and see the many trees decorated during the holidays there is nothing quite like it.
Weir adores the connection that is created with the friendly faces that frequent the shop.
“Years ago, one of our younger customers encouraged her mother’s out of town quests to shop at Pizzaz. When they asked her why Pizzaz was so special, she said, ‘Because they know my name.’ At Pizzaz, it really is all about our relationships with our customers and being here for them in happy and sad times. You can always get a smile and hug or a shoulder to lean on,” Weir said.
Weir’s other daughter, Katie Miller, recently moved back to Pensacola with her husband, Mike, and daughter Clara, (4).
“Katie is always available to fill in on the sales floor, especially during the holidays,” said Weir.
Her three granddaughters are quickly following in her footprints as well.
“The girls love to help but mainly shop! Henley has started helping us do some buying in our Sugarbabies section,” Henderson said.
“Henley loves to help decorate the Christmas trees and Hadley and Clara can quickly point you in the direction of every toy and trinket in the store. All three are our adorable children’s apparel models. And don’t forget Pop (Bob), head of maintenance and heavy lifting. We couldn’t do without him,” said Weir.
Weir is forever grateful that she has had the opportunity to work beside Henderson all these years.
“She is not only my daughter and business partner, but also my friend. We are a formidable force when we put our hearts and minds into a project,” said Weir.
“Some of my favorite things about the business are the connections we get to make. Being a generational business, we love watching our customers become friends and watching their families grow. We get to give back to the community that gave so much to me when I was younger,” Henderson explained.
There is always something new and fun to do at the store. A cooking class with a local chef, drop-in Mahjong classes, Tip Tuesday and more. If you are ever looking for just the right gift for someone special or maybe a treat for yourself, Pizzaz not only has amazing treasures but also familiar, friendly faces that truly love what they do.
When Weir has finished with the holiday rush and has a little down time, you will find her having slumber parties with her granddaughters or with Bob playing golf, tennis or traveling the world. Henderson stays busy with her family and enjoys continuing a tradition of raising her girls right here on the Gulf Coast in the city that helped raise her.
“We could never have had the success that we have without the support of our community,” Weir said.
“At Pizzaz, it really is all about our relationships with our customers and being here for them in happy and sad times. You can always get a smile and hug or a shoulder to lean on.”
— Viki Weir
