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Local antiques and collectibles shop owners to hold Holiday Journey II Holiday Journey offers alternative to mall shopping photo and story by Ralph Schwarz
Members of the Sanborn-Wheatfield Antiques and Giftshop Group will provide yet another different kind of Christmas shopping experience this year with the Holiday Journey II. Utilizing the proven concept of last year's inaugural Holiday Journey and this year's Spring Shop Hop and Summer Stroll, the owners of nine antiques and collectibles shops in Sanborn and Wheatfield will host a coordinated event from Friday, Nov. 28, to Sunday, Nov. 30, to give shoppers and collectors a chance to look at the broad variety of goods available at all partici-pating venues. "This is our way to kick off the holiday season," said Karolyn Lauffer of Lauffer's Antiques, one of the participating stores of the Journey. Many Vintage Items According to Lauffer, each of the antiques and collectibles stores will feature a large assortment of old-time Christmas items, ranging from vintage Christmas ornaments to aluminum Christmas trees. "All stores will feature a lot of one-of-a-kind gifts that you won't find at any department store," she said. "If you want to give somebody a unique gift, you'll find it here." Many of the participating stores will feature gift items from the 1950s, which are currently in high demand regardless if original vintage or modern-day retro. "Everything is going back to the '50s," said Bonnie Haskell of Jacob's Ladder. "Not only are the original items in high demand, but also the retro copy." As in the previously held events, all visitors of the participating stores will receive a Holiday Journey Passport, which will be stamped at each venue they visit. The shoppers who collect all nine stamps during the three days will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate, redeemable at any of the shops taking part in the event. "I think that many people will use the three days [of the event] to visit all shops and get their passport stamped," Lauffer said, adding that not only will the local antiques and collectible stores benefit from the Holiday Journey. "People are heading out to Sanborn and Wheatfield to check out the antiques at the small gift stores," she said. "And while they are doing this, they stop at local restaurants to have lunch or dinner." Special Events Planned Like last year, each of the participating stores will offer different special events as well as door prizes and refreshments. "Every shop will have something different going on," Lauffer said. At the Old Sanborn Milling Company Antique Co-op, for example, shoppers will find the porch decorated with Christmas greens. "It's going to look like a forest," said Lou Ann Gosch of the Old Sanborn Milling Company Antique Co-op. The former mill will also feature a 30-foot Christmas tree, which will be lit on Friday, Nov. 28, at 6:30 p.m. "After the tree is lit, we're going to have caroling from 6:30 to 7 o'clock," Gosch said. "And everybody who comes out during that time will get a candle." Since the Holiday Journey provides an alternative to crowded malls, the participating store owners expect that the event will again attract shoppers from Western New York and Southern Ontario. "I think our success lies in the fact that we offer a good, old-fashioned shopping experience," Lauffer said. "Contrary to the malls, shoppers deal here one on one with the respective dealers. And that is what many people like." The Holiday Journey II will take place from Friday, Nov. 28, to Sunday, Nov. 30. Participating in the event are:
Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can pick up their Holiday Passports at all 10 participating stores. |
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