Overwise Gifts named Business of the Month
Gift shop has offered unique merchandise since 1979
A local fixture for more than four decades has been named Lansdale’s Business of the Month for September.
Overwise Gifts and owner John Overwise were recognized by Economic Development Committee member Richard Strahm for creating a unique downtown destination, one that changes with the times.
“He stands as a perfect example of what makes Lansdale great: uniqueness, perseverance, and a dedication to making his small slice of our borough the very best it can be,” Strahm said.
Overwise and wife Cynthia arrived on Green Street in Lansdale in 1979, at first occupying the storefront just next door to their current location at 24 Green St. Initially, his shop started out by repairing and refinishing furniture, and over time turned into a shop where customers could find the one-of-a-kind.
“To this day, that’s John’s tagline: ‘unique gifts to please everyone.’ If you haven’t been to Overwise Gifts, you don’t know what you’re missing,” Strahm said.
“This small store seems to hold more than you think it could possibly fit, and it’s filled with 39 years of memories and stories,” he said.
Strahm presented the award on behalf of Economic Development Committee member Mark Ladley, who chose the business but was unable to attend the Sept. 19 council meeting, and said afterward the shop is “a wonderful business.”
Strahm said the shop is best experienced on a sunny day, when one can see the store’s plate glass windows reflect historic buildings on Green Street from one angle, and the 1970sera Century Plaza building from the other. Inside, antiques, wood items, and colorful glass lamps and wind chimes provide a different array of colors on each visit, and Strahm said the varied gifts on the shelves are as diverse as John’s background: Philadelphia natives, the family moved to Lansdale when Cynthia took a job at Merck, and he had previously worked on large-scale construction jobs and in the nuclear industry.
“He wanted to stop traveling for work, and settle down to do what he loves. John is 77 years old, which puts him at 38 when he opened his shop,” Strahm said.
“When I asked him about retirement, he responded that what he does is not work. It’s enjoyment, so there’s nothing to retire from. He continues to buy what he likes, and fills his shops with items that you will like, and want too,” he said.
As he described the business during council’s Sept. 19 meeting, Strahm showed slides of the wide range of gifts available in the store, including ornate glass lamps, a seven-foot-tall vase, a rocking chair John made from an old wine barrel, decorative mirrors, a storage bin made from an old bed frame, pencil drawings by John’s sister, and more.
“I can’t list them all, but you’ll want just about everything in the store,” Strahm said.
What does Overwise like most about Lansdale?
“One thing that thing he likes about the town is it constantly strives to improve and update itself,” Strahm said.
“While he has seen many stores in the borough come and go, he is happy to be part of the old guard of Lansdale’s retail past and present,” he said.
On Thursday, Overwise said he was thankful for the award and happy to help customers find gifts they didn’t know they were looking for — like a dresser set a friend asked him to sell due to a move, on display outside the store.
“It’s not what I usually have, but it’ll sell. Someone will want it,” Overwise said. Overwise Gifts is located at 24 Green St. in Lansdale, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, and can be reached at 215872-1689.