Valentine’s Day brought a surge of customers to local shops across Erie, with business owners saying they saw significant foot traffic throughout the day. Many say the community support means a lot — and gives them a chance to connect with customers on a personal level.
Marsha Eaton, co‑owner of the Floral Gallery, says that connection is what makes the holiday special for small shops.
“It’s a personal touch. We know a lot of our customers that come in. We have a lot of returning customers and we are a local business. We’ve been here for going on 40 years now.”
Across the city, Valentine’s Day was hard to miss. From flowers to chocolates, Erie‑based businesses spent hours hand‑packing orders — a sweet reminder of how much work goes into this time of year.
Tony Stefaneli, owner of Romolo’s Chocolates, says they take pride in what they do.
“We try to do whatever we can for the community and we try to put out the best absolute product in the country and people are responding, so it’s absolutely wonderful.”
Whether shoppers are looking for custom bouquets, sweet treats, or a fun night out, many say they’re making it a priority to find something personal this holiday.
From classic floral arrangements to stuffed animals almost as big as the customers buying them, people are coming in from all over the region to find the perfect gift.
Customer Donald Lawrence says local shops offer something special.
“Came in local shop, got a lot of different bears, a lot of different flowers — selection that I can’t quite find anywhere else.”
For many business owners, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about sales — it’s about community. They say when people choose local, everyone benefits.
Bertrand Artigues, owner of Cloud 9, says seeing the community out and about is what makes the day worth it.
“Community, I think, and all that — just to see a lot of people coming out downtown, it’s just awesome.”
Local businesses say even one purchase can make a big difference — especially during one of the busiest times of the year.