Petroglyph was founded in the fall of 1993 by Jennifer Kurtz and Michael Rubin (they were married in 1994—a few months before the opening of the first Ceramic Lounge.
Jennifer wanted to create a space that was social (like a bar) but that focused on creative activities rather than eating or drinking. She wanted a space where people gathered without competing (like playing pool or darts). She'd say "If women ran the world, Petroglyph is what 'bars' would have been - adult places to go after work, to get together with friends, but centered on something constructive. Kid-friendly, but not kid-oriented. Attentive to women's needs, but not alienating to men."
Over the years, Petroglyph has attracted many kindered spirits to our mission. The first activity of Petroglyph - and the one that gained so much attention - was that of painting bisque pottery. The "contemporary ceramic studio" pioneered by Jennifer and Michael (first through their work in Los Angeles, and later in the Bay Area) caught on like wildfire. In 1995 there were fewer than 6 places in the nation dedicated to this activity. By 1999 there were more than 1,200 studios worldwide. By Summer 2000 Petroglyph operated 7 studios, but after some refinement of our business, we now operate 4 studios in Northern California, in Santa Cruz, Los Gatos, San Jose (Willow Glen) and Roseville.