Scranton Tomorrow officials hope an annual promotional event puts a spring in shoppers’ steps on Saturday.
Hop Around Downtown — started several years ago after a suggestion from the owners of Penn House Boutique — has been expanded to include a Golden Egg hunt. Customers who find the eggs — between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — will receive 10% off their purchase, said Liz Baldi, business development director for Scranton Tomorrow, a nonprofit community and economic development organization.
“They wanted to do a spring event to really kind of capture an audience for anybody out shopping for Easter presents,” Baldi said. “What better time to do it than right before Easter when spring is finally starting and the weather is getting nice. All the stores downtown have all of their spring retail out. In addition, they add some extra smaller items for Hop Around so they can be Easter basket stuffers.”
Lynn Farrell, co-owner of Penn House Boutique, 314 Penn Ave., praised Scranton Tomorrow’s continued efforts and believes the springtime event will provide a boost to downtown retailers during a traditionally weaker time for sales.
“They go above and beyond trying to help the Scranton businesses come up with ideas and keep things going, especially at times like January, February and March when things are slow,” Farrell said. “We’re very appreciative of Leslie (Collins) and Liz. It gives you that little incentive of getting 10% off, and getting something new for the holiday or a trip that is coming up. It’ll get some traffic downtown, which I think we need.”
A “golden egg” will be hidden in the Penn House Boutique and if shoppers find it, they will receive 10% off merchandise. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Sales rep Tracy Capalongo poses for a photograph in Penn House Boutique in downtown Scranton Thursday, March 26, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Women’s clothing is for sale in Penn House Boutique in downtown Scranton Thursday, March 26, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Women’s clothing is for sale in Penn House Boutique in downtown Scranton Thursday, March 26, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The inside of Penn House Boutique in downtown Scranton Thursday, March 26, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Brigid Lawrence, owner of Friendly Alien Books, works at the counter inside the shop on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
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A “golden egg” will be hidden in the Penn House Boutique and if shoppers find it, they will receive 10% off merchandise. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Baldi noted 24 of the 31 businesses participating in the promotion — including some restaurants — will have golden eggs in their establishments. For a full list of participants, visit scrantontomorrow.org/post/hunt-hop-shop-in-downtown-scranton.
“This has been our biggest year for Hop Around in terms of registration,” she said. “It’s an extremely encouraging feeling, knowing the events we’re putting on are valued by the small businesses. It encourages us to grow them and see if we can add some additional elements that make them even more profitable.”
Baldi added many restaurants will also offer spring food and drink specials on Saturday.
“Every season, our downtown eateries try to make a fresh start and come up with some new ideas,” she said.
Brigid Lawrence, owner of Friendly Alien Books, 111 Wyoming Ave., which opened in June, enjoys collaborating with other retailers and also lauded Collins and Baldi for supporting small businesses. In addition to hiding items for the golden egg hunt, the store will offer additional discounts, Lawrence said.
“Scranton Tomorrow really makes it a point, seasonally, to help put together events that bring people downtown,” she said. “As a new business, it’s very exciting to work with them, see what’s coming up on the calendar and engage in the business community.”