| A Great Place to Call Home (and Shop) |
| Written by Barb Hawley | ||||||
 Hoping for a hassle-free holiday season this year? If you’re willing to exchange midnight madness sales, mobs at the mall, and parking lot scuffles for peace on earth…if you want to swap rude cashiers, annoying Santa displays, and Cross Valley traffic for goodwill toward men…Kingston merchants say, “Welcome Home for the Holidays.” Welcome to a place where neighborhood stores see quality, value, and service as a way of life, not just store policy. No matter who’s on your list this year, you can find the perfect gift within Kingston’s 2.2-mile radius. Think of it: the gas savings alone could cover the cost for the office gift exchange! “I have customers who go looking in New York or Boston and then they come here and ask, ‘why did we bother to go so far?’ Seriously, some people don’t realize what they have right here,” said Yuki, of Yuki’s Boutique, whose shop carries exclusive items like scarves and bags that “never go out of style—they’re classic, with a twist.” More wearable women’s classics are available at Shelby’s nearby, and if you’re afraid to take a chance on dress size, a gift certificate is a great option. Nearly every Kingston business offers them in many denominations. Jane Leslie and Co. carries linens and pillows with a holiday theme, ornaments in a large range of prices, Christmas candles, and collectible toys. Watch for a Pandora trunk sale at 3 Sisters, featuring the fashion-craze updated version of a charm bracelet. Gems, letters, and charms can personalize this gift for any friend or family member. Ronne Kurlancheek, owner of Kurlancheek Home Furnishings, is excited about a special order of hand-painted furniture that she obtained. It includes 150 one-of-a-kind decorative pieces ranging in price from $88 to $1,000, available now. If you like it when you see it, buy it. There won’t be a duplicate! Who in northeast PA wouldn’t love a warm car this winter? Sound Solutions brings the heat with its selection of remote car starters and other electronics. Everyone’s gift list includes some technology-challenged person who will sigh with relief if you give him a gift certificate to Custom Computers, a service-oriented business. This store also provides computers and notebooks with WindowsXP, not always an option elsewhere. For a really big surprise under the tree, dishwashers and microwaves are the hottest items selling this time of year at Rebennack’s Appliances. Like Santa, Rebennack’s provides free delivery, but does one better: it provides free removal as well. Books, books, books—always a gift-giving favorite! No place better to shop than Tudor Book Shop & Café, where recent titles, bestsellers, and well-loved classics share the shelves. Check out the special events lined up during the holiday season- a handmade jewelry event, a wine-and-cheese evening, a 20% off sale, and meet-the-author events. The bookstore and many other businesses, like Rainbow Jewelers and Yuki’s Boutique, have extended their holiday hours and are open seven days a week. Food is a sure way to please anyone else on your list. A busy student or working mom would love a gift certificate to any of Kingston’s great restaurants. For quick and easy, Lino’s and Pizza Mill both turn out the pies. Bistro Bistro unveils a new menu for December and will cater out parties up to about 30 people. At the Bakehouse, party trays and gift baskets are in huge demand. The baskets, which make a perfect gift for a client, friend, boss, or employee, can be customized with baked goods and gourmet coffees and teas. A gift of a member package, an individual pass, or athletic wear from Maximum Health and Fitness says “I care about you” to anyone who’d like to be physically fit. If all this and more is available in Kingston, it doesn’t make sense to drive all over the Valley to shop, but some people will just because they’ve done it that way every holiday. “People become conditioned to go to the mall or the big boxes, and what started as a novelty became a habit,” said a local resident. “What we need is awareness to make a change.” It’s time to realize what we have right here. It’s time to come home to Kingston for the holidays. Bookmark with:
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