SCRANTON — For the past decade, small shops in the Green Ridge section of the city have banked on the magic of Christmas to boost sales during the heart of the summer.
That tradition will continue Saturday as the Green Ridge Business Association hosts its 10th annual Christmas in July Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christmas-themed Christmas apparel will be available for purchase Saturday at Enchanted Elephant Boutique, 2019 Boulevard Ave., Scranton, during the 10th annual Green Ridge Corners Christmas in July Sale. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Christmas-themed Christmas apparel will be available for purchase Saturday at Enchanted Elephant Boutique, 2019 Boulevard Ave., Scranton, during the 10th annual Green Ridge Corners Christmas in July Sale. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Baseball and tennis accessories available for purchase Saturday at Pop it! Jackets and Accessories, 706 E. Market St., Scranton during the 10th annual Green Ridge Corners Christmas in July Sale. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Apparel available for purchase at Pop it! Jackets and Accessories, 706 E. Market St., Scranton, Saturday during the 10th annual Green Ridge Corners Christmas in July Sale. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
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Christmas-themed Christmas apparel will be available for purchase Saturday at Enchanted Elephant Boutique, 2019 Boulevard Ave., Scranton, during the 10th annual Green Ridge Corners Christmas in July Sale. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Keith Cavallotti, owner of Pop It! Jackets and Accessories, 706 E. Market St., played a key role in originally organizing the event and takes pride in continuing the efforts.
“You always have aspirations of long-lasting business in general … and then to put together a really fun event for the community, for the Green Ridge Corners, I think is really great,” he said. “And to have it last for 10 years, I think that’s really an accomplishment.”
Cavallotti noted the timing of the sale serves as a nice bridge to back-to-school shopping later in the summer.
“July is such a downtime after the Fourth,” he said. “Everyone is on vacation and not in the shopping process, they’re kind of waiting for fall, so it’s a nice boost. It’s truly such a big help for all the businesses. I know, myself, it really helps you keep going.”
From Cavallotti — a longtime member of the neighborhood’s business community — to Marie Allen and Kelly Doyle, who took over The Releafery, 709 E. Market St., in April, the camaraderie among shop owners is strong.
“I think it helps that we’re all kind of unique and don’t do the same things,” Allen said. “We all support each other and try to drive business to each other if we can.”
Cavallotti stressed that Allen and Doyle have fit right in among the other owners from the start and appreciates their efforts to keep the business open after the former owner, Lindsey Green, stepped aside.
“They’ve been ready to do whatever’s necessary to help when it comes to planning an event and bringing people together,” he said. “I can tell they have a real excitement about the business, which is always fun to see. Losing a business is brutal, so to have it transition so smoothly has been really nice.”
Mary Rose Perry, owner of Enchanted Elephant Boutique, 2019 Boulevard Ave., believes customers eagerly await the Christmas in July sales.
“They love them, they come every year for them,” she said. “They look forward to it along with the Fall Festival, too. I think it’s very important and we all do it together. It’s a nice thing.”
Other businesses expected to participate in the Christmas in July sale include the Curiosity Shop, 640 E. Market St.; Cosmik Gifts, 1827 Sanderson Ave.; Changes Luxury Consignment, 1823 Sanderson Ave.; Sports Medley Bowling Pro Shop, 1926 Boulevard Ave.; Cuppa Cake Cafe, 701 E. Market St.; The Post Ice Cream & Events, 625 Deacon St.; and Khlovan’s Thrift, 702 E. Market St.
Cavallotti feels customers like taking a break from the heat and humidity to boost their mood and make a few early holiday purchases.
“With the weather being so hot, and everyone being in that relaxed summer mode, it’s something fun,” he said. “Even though Christmas is far away, it comes before you know it. People will actually buy some gifts and start thinking ahead. There’s just something special about Christmas. I think people really buy into that and really enjoy it.”