The 53rd Annual Hamburg Sidewalk Sale on Aug. 8 marked the end of some shopping traditions in downtown Hamburg, but also provided new businesses the opportunity to start traditions of their own.
Sponsored by the Greater Hamburg Business Association, the Sidewalk Sale was coordinated by Lori Mengel, co-owner of the Doris Berry Shop.
Along with sisters, Melanie Roeckle of Wyomissing and Deena Kerschner of Tilden Township, Mengel, a resident of Hamburg, owned the Doris Berry Shop, a third generation legacy from the sisters’ grandmother and great aunt. Although Mengel stated that the shop will stay opened during their regular business hours until the merchandise is sold, she described how “certain things have been hard” and talked about emptying their once-full lower level to consolidate their wares in the first floor of the store.
“I’ve been friends with my customers,” said Mengel. “This has been my life.”
Mike Heckart of Tilden Township has owned Miller’s 5 and 10 for 20 years. He explained the upcoming closing of his store, a stereotypical five and dime from the past that sold everything from soft goods to hardware, by saying, “People don’t shop local, and that’s why we’re going out of business.”
Heckart talked about shoppers focusing on Walmart and Lowes’, and not coming to Miller’s until they “can’t find what they need” elsewhere.
New on the scene in downtown Hamburg, Brett and Tonya’s Primitives and Used Furniture, opened in April, was represented by co-owners Tonya Rusweiler and Brett Conley. Rusweiler, a Windsor Township resident for the last 18 years, talked about her inspiration to sell furniture and home decor items, and said that she “always loved the country and primitive” style. Rusweiler and Conley agreed that the other business owners were welcoming to them, and Rusweiler described the Hamburg business community as “nice and helpful.”
The 2nd Chance Boutique, located on State Street, entered the downtown Hamburg area in 2012, and provided an unusual shopping experience for visitors to the store. Keena Shaffer of Hamburg described the mission of the store as being the support of the Life’s Choices ministry, located adjacent to 2nd Chance. All merchandise at the boutique is donated and the funds raised help to operate the free programs of Life’s Choices, including money management, parenting classes, relationship mentoring, and emergency material assistance for women, men, and families. Shaffer confirmed that the staff of 2nd Chance “love(s) being part of the Hamburg community” and that the community can “help us with donations and we can give back with affordable clothing and the services we offer.”
Without Mengel’s coordination of the Hamburg Sidewalk Sale due to closing the doors of the Doris Berry Shop, concern was expressed by other store owners in regard to the future of the historic downtown event. Mengel stated that only 15 stores registered to participate in the sale, showing no increase from last year. Heckart called the event a “lack of” a sidewalk sale as he worked to sell merchandise to end his two decades in downtown Hamburg.
