The Christmas Stroll is the annual shopping trip for Pine Grove, Pennsylvania. The Christmas Stroll ignites the start of Christmastime for the town and provides locals and travelers with sales from all of the stores in the town. Store owners can choose to set up a scavenger hunt in their shop for the consumers to find. The scavenger hunt allows buyers to have an exciting time while shopping for their favorite items. One of the shop owners is Judi Kassab, owner of the Wild Fern Cottage.
“I started my business five years ago. I started by renting space within co-ops in different areas including Morgantown, Orwigsburg, Manheim, Lititz and Reading. As my business grew, I decided to open my own location two years ago,” said Judi Kassab, owner of The Wild Fern Cottage.
Kassab has held a steady operation since her move two years ago. The Wild Fern Cottage is a great place for all ages. The shop holds clothes, home decor, jewelry, and accessories. The shop helps the community bond in many ways. Some told Kassab during the Stroll that “ it felt like a high school reunion because they saw many people they hadn’t seen in a long time.” The Wild Fern boosts the local economy as well as the community.
“The event was definitely a success. The goal was to make people aware of the different shops in Pine Grove and to entice them to shop within the community. Based on sales and the number of passports handed out, it was a success,” says Judi Kassab.
The Christmas Stroll has been more successful than ever. Since the pandemic, people have been more willing to shop at smaller, local businesses other than large corporations. Kassab says she loves creating the environment where people can be comfortable and safe. The Stroll brings the town together for one special day to gather and socialize into the upcoming Christmas season. Next time the Christmas Stroll comes around, think about the benefits and how meaningful it really is for the town of Pine Grove.