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Center St. in Provincetown is a living canvas, its walls, floors, and even the tiles bearing the fingerprints of local artists. The house, originally a parsonage built in 1870, was transformed after Ronny Hazel, the colorful founder of Shop Therapy, bought it in 1991. Hazel didn’t merely decorate the space; he enlisted artists to redesign every corner, turning the home into a gallery of sculpture, painting, taxidermy, and oddities. The result is a bright yellow and lime‑green exterior surrounded by a sculpture garden that echoes the mural on Shop Therapy’s façade and the nearby Art Alley tunnel.
Hazel’s son, Keith, who grew up in the house, recalled its “open‑door policy” and imagined it as a bed‑and‑breakfast for world travelers. “My father would love that,” he said. “He loved when the house was full.” The property, now listed for $4.8 million, will pass on its vibrant legacy to a new owner. The listing is handled by Pilar Colleran, a Keller Williams realtor from Plainville who studied painting at RISD and has long been a Provincetown summer guest. She emphasizes that the house is more than a dwelling; it’s a “bold house with a soul” for someone who wants to showcase creativity.
The sculpture garden features works by Pierre Riche, welder Michael Kacergis, Peter Catchpole, Carl Tasha, and Richard Pepitone. Mason Peter “Columbus” Annese, Jr. contributed iron gates and stonework that attract photographers and visitors. Inside, a blue‑stained‑glass foyer, a kitchen with pendant lights, and a bathtub surrounded by art create an immersive experience. The dining room, once a parsonage hall, can seat 20 guests and has hosted countless gatherings. Rachel Harrington, owner of the adjacent B.Xclusive shop, credits Hazel with nurturing local artists and providing a space for community events. She recalls summers spent in the house, sleeping under the stars after a fireplace repair left a hole in the ceiling.
The home offers four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and 3,312 sq ft of living space, all with water views. Its location is within walking distance of the beach, and the property’s history includes a period as a hatters’ shop in 1965. Hazel’s eclectic personality—Vietnam veteran, artist, flamboyant, spiritual—shaped the house’s character. He once served two years under house arrest at 4 Center St. after a conviction for selling drug paraphernalia and tax evasion in 2006, yet the house remained a hub for artists and visitors.
Keith Hazel, now based in New Mexico, hopes the next owner will continue the community‑oriented spirit. “People in Provincetown are often tearing down and building sterile structures,” he says. “I dug the six‑foot trench for that front wall, removed hedges. I’d love someone who appreciates the place and keeps it alive with people from all over the world.” The house’s unique blend of art, history, and hospitality makes it a rare find on the Cape.
