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Black Friday shoppers visit Shepherdstown for deals, unique gifts

By Staff | Dec 6, 2019

Shea Jones, of Frederick, Md., buys Christmas gifts from Cori Berlin in her new business, The Humble Honey, on Black Friday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Black Friday shoppers descended on Shepherdstown, as many businesses opened their doors to sell their unique gifts and deals for holiday shoppers.

For Shea Jones, of Frederick, Md., Black Friday shopping in Shepherdstown’s small businesses helped her find a number of unique items that she couldn’t find in a big-box store.

“I’m buying Christmas gifts and personal things,” Jones said, as she purchased handmade jewelry, a hand-crocheted hat and pottery in The Humble Honey.

Down at Evolve’s pop-up Christmas shop, which was selling Christmas in the City Village pieces and Christopher Radko ornaments, Kathy Wenner, of Shepherdstown, was browsing for Christmas decorations for her own home.

“I have a Dickens village, and the kids love it. We add to it each year,” Wenner said, mentioning her village currently has about 50 pieces. “I’m really glad they’re doing the pop-up. For those who have been Black Friday shopping in Shepherdstown today, you find some real gems!”

Kathy Wenner, of Shepherdstown, looks at Christmas in the City Village pieces at the Christmas pop-up shop in Evolve on Black Friday. Tabitha Johnston

According to Evolve co-owner Jan Hafer, the pop-up shop had a couple hundred shoppers visit the shop. While many times shoppers will stop in to look and not buy anything, Hafer said more people were buying items than she had anticipated.

“It’s a holiday shop, so we’re getting a lot of buyers, not just lookers,” Hafer said, mentioning the shop’s items were liquidation inventory.

“We had two friends who had high-end gift shops retire in recent years. In conversation with them, we found out they had these Christmas items left over,” Hafer said. “So that fits with our philosophy, to only sell things that we have not bought. We believe in reuse, recycle, repurpose.”

Over at Penny Lane Emporium, some out-of-town shoppers were visiting the shop for the first time.

“We’ve come to Shepherdstown every year for the last 20 years. We come and watch the show and then visit the shops,” said Dean Allen, of Montgomery County.

Dean Allen, of Montgomery County, browses the shelves of Penny Lane Emporium on Friday night. Tabitha Johnston

According to his father, Mark Allen, of Montgomery County, the family originally visited Shepherdstown to celebrate Thanksgiving with Mark’s mother, who was a local resident for many years. The family would then stay for the Christmas in Shepherdstown opening festivities on Friday night, and return home the next day. The tradition has continued on, with the family driving up every Black Friday.

“It’s a nice way to start the Christmas season, because people here in Shepherdstown are so friendly. It’s also a way to continue our family tradition,” Mark said, as he took a pair of reading glasses and photograph of Shepherdstown’s Little House to the cash register.

Penny Lane Emporium’s owner, Margaret Walker, said she stayed open late on Black Friday, because shoppers kept coming into the shop.

“It’s been a busy day — a lot of people came in. I would normally be closed by now,” Walker said. “Not everybody’s bought something, but business has been very good today.”