By Judy Shuler
No. Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to savor the holiday mood. Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber of Commerce is hosting their annual Holiday Open House two consecutive weekends, November 11-12 and 18-19, with some 33 participating businesses.
Chautauqua chamber and owner of Handcrafted
from the Heart in Mayville, NY (pictured) and Sorena
Gilkinson Photography.
With 28 participants “we had our biggest year last year and didn’t think we could ever top that, but we have done it again!” says Sorena Gilkinson, community chair for the chamber and owner of Handcrafted from the Heart and Sorena Gilkinson Photography.
“We are holding this fun and festive event the two weeks before Small Business Saturday to help bring awareness to our local businesses as a reminder to shop local,” says Shannon Biekarck, Mayville-Chautauqua Community Coordinator. ShopLocalCHQ cards can be used at participating merchants.
Each participating business will provide a door prize for the event and punch a card for shoppers that they can drop off at their last stop to be eligible for prizes at the conclusion of Holiday Open House, Gilkinson says. A minimum of five punches is required for entry into the drawing.
Stretching from Mayville to Bemus Point, participants include such diverse offerings as gift shops, boutique, books, original art, hardware, beverages for grown-ups, a bike shop, and of course, food.
Best of Buffalo by Byron food truck will be in the Mayville Train depot lot across from Evergreen outfitters serving–of course–roast beef on weck, chicken wings, and curly fries. Franklin Honey & Apple Farm will set up nearby. Music For Your Mouth is planning special coffee and hot chocolate drinks and also specials for breakfast and lunch and dinner and live music performances. Chautauqua Harbor House Restaurant has food and more. They are also offering custom Christmas stockings, Buffalo Bills vinyl decals and Scrabble tile letters made by a new local business.
At Timeless Treasures the entire store will offer a 20 percent discount, excluding jewelry, pocket tokens and items already reduced, says owner Laura Miele. Bene Esse will provide coffee, a small gift, and opportunity to learn about their services as marriage and family therapist/relationship coach. A family and marriage counselor, Brianna Kirwan, has been added to their staff and people can meet and talk with her as well.
New participants this year are The Green Door Tavern and Loud Performance in Bemus Point; The Crafty Shack, Encore Nutrition, Mayville Service Center, Franklin Honey & Apple Farm and Big Inlet Brewing in Mayville. Returning businesses include GG My Love, St. Elmo Spa, The Chautauqua Bookstore and The Gallery Store, in Chautauqua Institution; Portage Hill Art Gallery, Westfield; Evergreen Outfitters, The Mayville Library, Sorena Gilkinson Photography, Handcrafted From the Heart, Neil’s Auto Parts-Mayville NAPA, Webb’s Captain’s Table & Carry-out Café, Timeless Treasures, The Mayberry Jungle, Andriaccio’s Restaurant, Hickory Hurst Farm, Uptown Mall, Quintessential Print Shop, Stewart’s Mayville Hardware, Chautauqua Liquor & Wine, The Chautauqua Suites Meeting & Expo Center, 3 Seas Recreation, Cottage by Pucci’s, Bene Esse and The Lakeview Hotel and Restaurant, all of Mayville.
For more information contact Mayville-Chautauqua Community Chamber Coordinator Shannon Biekarck at (716) 366-6200 ext. 208.