Elmira offers a SMALL TOWN Christmas Shopping Experience
When the hustle and bustle of Christmas is getting you down, a dose of Elmira is just what the doctor ordered. With its small town feel and unique stores, Christmas shopping in Elmira can be a pleasant and fun experience. With other amenities in the area, like trails and public skates and swims at the rec centre, you can throw in a meal and make a day of it.
“There are shops and restaurants eager to have you there,” says Lisa Schaefer, coordinator of the Business Improvement Area.
“Lots of people like the small town feel in Elmira,” says Lydia Weber, one of three owners of Kitchen Kuttings, a store in the centre of town that sells an array of food items including baking supplies, candies, local cheeses and summer sausage. “This is a totally different shopping experience from the mall.”
It hits you as you enter town. There's plenty of parking, the pace is slower and the shop owners are only too happy to accommodate your needs. The downtown core is already decked out for the holidays, and the downtown churches are following suit making for a delightful stroll along the main drag.
“We build relationships here,” says Maggie Cooper, owner of Maggie's Mudroom, a café and pottery studio. “You don't always get that in the big city stores.”
Cooper's store is a hive of activity as individuals and families come in to try their hand at decorating their own clay decorations. These make special gifts or precious keepsakes. It's also a fun way to make some Christmas memories.
“People paint their piece, we fire it here and a week later, it's ready. People are crafty, they have it in them to do this, and they seem to love it,” Cooper said.
Wander along Arthur Street and you'll find clothing stores, shoe stores, Busy Bee Scrapbooking and Dragonhill Games. There are also restaurants to fill your hunger and quench your thirst.
The Bargain Shop is fully stocked for Christmas, with a selection of decorations, toys, clothing, housewares, hardware and gift items.
L.A. Beauty Boutique sells quality women's clothing at reasonable prices. There's a hair salon at the back of the store and here you can get your hair and makeup done, buy an outfit and accessories, and head out for a night on the town.
Also, be sure to take a look at the windows at Fuji Film. The train set and toy soldiers capture the excitement of the season.
Christine Aberle, at The Window Box florist shop, said she prepares a lot of centrepieces and arrangements in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Her store also has a selection of Christmas decorations and gift items.
“In Elmira, you deal with independent entrepreneurs and that's different from a chain store,” Aberle said.
The BIA organized its annual Moonlight Madness sale at the end of November, which featured the tree lighting, horse and wagon rides and Christmas carollers strolling through the area. Participation of local merchants was high and the evening was a blast, officially heralding the holiday season.