Chalets closed
But you can still buy seasonal gifts online from holiday market vendors
The ninth annual Peoples Gas Holiday Market is the latest tradition to be cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the heels of Gov. Tom Wolf’s updated restrictions, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership — which produces the yearly market in Downtown’s Market Square — announced Thursday evening it would close at 9:30 p.m. Friday. It was originally slated to end Dec. 23.
It kicked off on Black Friday, a week later than usual due to the cancellation of Light Up Night. The layout was reconfigured this year to spread out the wooden chalets that dotted Market Square and allow for sanitation stations.
Some vendors said they were surprised the Peoples Gas Holiday market opened at all this year because of the pandemic.
David Wagman, the owner and designer behind Wagman Designs, said the other art and craft shows he typically participates in during the year were canceled.
He specializes in jewelry that ranges from quirky and whimsical to sophisticated and stylish. He’s traveled from Delaware to participate in the market since its inaugural year.
“Business is good here. I do decent, decent enough every year to keep returning,” he said.
This year, though, had been “slow, slow, slow” most weekdays with so many Downtown office workers still doing their jobs remotely. “Usually, I’d have a crowd around noon until 1:30 or 2 p.m.”
He used the down time to make new accessories to sell in 2021.
“I decided to be very productive,” Mr. Wagman said.
Several vendors said they did see an uptick in foot traffic on weekends.
“Saturdays have been good, sales wise,” said Amy Garbark, who owns Garbella (garbella.net) in Lawrenceville. The brand is known for its screen-printed apparel, accessories, home decor and other giftable goodies.
Her creations were featured in the PG&H (pgandh.org) chalet, along with Collarbone Jewelry ( shopcollarbone. com), Broken Plates (glass accessories and ornaments sold online at brokenplatesglasswearables.com) and KLoRebel Art (klorebel.com).
“We thought it was safer this year financially to go in together because we didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
Some shoppers took advantage of the holiday market while it lasted to find something unique.
“I’ve had several people tell me they came here specifically to shop locally. They’re making it a point this year to support local businesses and artists,” said Monica Yope, a co-owner of the local gift shop love, Pittsburgh (lovepittsburghshop.com).
This marked the store’s second year selling candles, apparel, bath-and-beauty products, home decor, and more by dozens of Pittsburgh-based artisans at a chalet. In particular, shoppers
had been clamoring for ornaments and salts and spices from Steel City Salt Co. ( steelcitysalt.com),
Ms. Yope said.
Most visitors were simply happy to be out of the house and
to be getting a taste of normalcy, although every now and then people needed a reminder to wear their masks properly and keep a safe distance.
“I’m here to sell felt, not to get COVID,” said Kelly Sobczak, owner of Global Girl Gifts ( www. globalgirlgifts. com) in Bridgeville.
Ms. Sobczak works with artisans in other countries to curate the pieces she sells. Shoppers had a sweet spot for the charming animal ornaments handmade from felt in Nepal. Another favorite this year at her chalet were animal-shaped wine bottle toppers.
COVID-19 has made business challenging because she doesn’t usually sell online.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to be here making sales,” Ms. Sobczak said.
Richard Hooper, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s
vice president of marketing and communications, told the Post-Gazette in an email sent before the closure was announced that the Peoples Gas Holiday Market was especially important this year.
“For many, this was their first show of the year, and it’s an important revenue stream for them, especially so now, given the challenges faced this year.”
Many vendors from the past returned, while some sat this year out due to preexisting health conditions that put them or another person in their household at higher risk for COVID19. A few others didn’t join this year because the pandemic hurt their ability to import products to sell, he added.
There also were two new vendors this year. Keystone Steel Co. (keystonesteelco. com) sold handcrafted steel ornaments, wall decor and signs. The I See Spain (iseespain.com) chalet was stocked with colorful handmade and hand-painted Spanish pottery.
Vendors paid a fee to have a presence at the holiday market. Fees were adjusted this year to reflect the shortened season, according to Mr. Hooper. He didn’t provide the exact cost.
He said he’s received “positive feedback” from participants.
“Of course, pedestrian traffic is down from other years, but we have received good reports from vendors, some of whom are seeing around 80% of typical sales to date,” he said.
Some vendors — like Juan Felipe of Mistura Timepieces (mistura.com) in Dallas — said Pittsburgh and its people make coming to Peoples Gas Holiday Market worth the trip, even in a pandemic.
“We have a good customer base here, and we love the city,” Mr. Felipe said.