The site of the former Lazy Daisy Alpacas store and Atty. Jami Hearn’s office at 28 E. Tioga Street (top) in Tunkhannock will be used from Nov. 25 to Dec. 18 by area businesses taking advantage of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Marketplace promotion. David Buck of Endless Mountain Outfitters, above with WyCCC president Gina Suydam, will display kayaks, stand-up boards and paddling accessories at the former site of Ace-Robbins at 18 E. Tioga Street.
Downtown Tunkhannock is a popular destination during the holidays, with its charming old buildings so elaborately decorated for shoppers and community events. The Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce (WyCCC) is doing its part to ensure that visitors to Tunkhannock can access the best of what Wyoming County has to offer by bringing artisans and other retailers to the heart of the business district.
The WyCCC Holiday Marketplace will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Friday, Nov. 25 to Sunday, Dec. 18. On those dates, businesses that generally do not operate downtown will be provided storefront retail space at 18 and 28 East Tioga Street to exhibit their wares and services.
“We hope to increase foot traffic in Tunkhannock during the holidays to help promote businesses currently operating downtown,” WyCCC president Gina Suydam said of the first-time venture. “We’re able to do this because Ace-Robbins and Jami Hearn have upgraded their businesses.”
Ace-Robbins has opened a showroom on Route 6 east of Tunkhannock, and Jami Hearn is now operating at 181 West Tioga Street. “The Kukuchkas and Jami Hearn have generously allowed us to use their retired space.”
There are a number of properties in the transition stage in the downtown area. Like Ace-Robbins, the businesses that once used them have expanded and moved to other sites. The space has been renovated and is ready for use, and Holiday Marketplace coordinators are hoping that potential renters will see the commercial viability of the storefronts while shoppers benefit from an expanded selection of products.
Doors will be open from 10 am to 5 pm, and participating businesses are asked to staff their vendor space for as much of that time as possible. Smaller businesses with limited staff may not be able to be physically on site at all times but can set up an exhibit to promote products and services at their permanent locations.
“We are flexible so far as modifying the contracts,” Suydam explained. “You don’t have to be there every day.” Vendor space is limited, however. Interested business owners should contact WyCCC as soon as possible.
The WyCCC is subsequently inviting shoppers to vie for one of two $500 prizes by participating in the Shop Chamber & Win contest. Shoppers can obtain registration forms at participating businesses throughout the county and get the completed form and a copy of a receipt dated Nov. 25 to Dec. 24 from the store to the WyCCC office by Jan. 5, 2017.
The annual promotion has been well-received by those seeking products and services in Wyoming County, as well as the member businesses that participate.
“This is a fun contest to promote shopping with chamber member businesses, including service businesses like contractors and other professionals,” said Suydam. “There was a couple from Nicholson that won a few years ago after contracting some home repairs from Nicholson Lumber. When they won, they decided to renovate their sun room and redeemed their winnings with Nicholson Lumber.”
In 2015, she continued, a couple who won took their full $500 in home heating fuel from Ace-Robbins.
Completed forms and receipt copies can be dropped off at the WyCCC office at 79 Warren St., Tunkhannock or mailed prior to Jan. 5. Shop Chamber winners will be notified by phone and will be given their choice of gift certificates from Chamber member businesses, which are purchased by the WyCCC.
The Shop Chamber contest was funded in part by the Wyoming County Room Tax fund and the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau. For more information about the Holiday Marketplace and Shop Chamber & Win, log on to www.wyccc.com or call 570-836-7755.