Several Downtown Businesses Open Late For Holiday Shoppers For Three Consecutive Thursdays

Thirty-five downtown shops will be open late on Thursdays until 7 p.m. on Dec. 7, 14 and 21, announced by the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) on Monday.

A shopper browses candles at Luminary Emporium on Hunter Street. Photo courtsey of the DBIA.

This late-night shopping initiative is a merchant-led program in coordination with the DBIA that aims to encourage more downtown shopping during the holidays.

“We know that it's not always easy to make it downtown during the day so a large collection of downtown businesses have again organized a late-night shopping experience to provide a wider opportunity to shop downtown and support local this holiday season,” said Anthony Lennan, Ptbo Food Shop owner. “There are so many amazing shops and restaurants downtown, and we appreciate everyone who makes a point of supporting local businesses during the holidays and whenever possible.”

Parking is free in downtown Peterborough after 6 p.m. and two-hour free holiday parking is in effect before then.

There are 35 participating businesses for late-night shopping:

• Tragically Dipped

• Statement House

• The Neighbourhood Vintage

• By the Books

• East City Knife Co.

• Needles in the Hay

• Plant Goals

• Ptbo Food Shop

• Metaphorhome

• The Capital

• Iceman Video Games

• Couture Candy

• Hi Ho Silver

• Cork & Bean

• Tiny Greens

• Minhs Chinese Grocery

• Chumleighs

• Boardwalk Game Lounge

• John Roberts Clothiers

• Milk + Tea shop

• Rieker by Cheslers

• Grey Guardian Games

• erben

• Gather Home Goods

• Cottage Toys

• Pammett’s Flower Shop

• The Toy Shop

• Ritual Apothecary

• Wild Rock

• Rawscoes Sports & Collectibles

• Cozy 

• Dan Joyce Clothing

• Fallen Giants Simcoe

• Sugar me Right

“It’s vital that we continue to incentivize and reward folks for supporting our downtown- especially during the busy holiday season. We are excited to be offering holiday shoppers the opportunity to collect extra stamps on our holiday shopping passports during the Late Night Shopping events,” said Hillary Flood, DBIA vibrancy manager. “There is nothing more charming than shopping for the holidays in our historic downtown in December. We hope that this initiative will draw folks into the urban core for a larger experience with friends and family. Many downtown restaurants already open in the evenings, so having a large collection of shops open later also provides people with the flexibility to combine dining and shopping while they are downtown.”

The DBIA has created a map has been created to locate the participating retailers.

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Grand Prize Winner Of Holiday Shopping Passport Announced

Arlene Petrany of Peterborough has been named as winner of the Holiday Shopping Passport grand prize draw.

Arlene Petrany, Holiday Shopping Passport Grand Prize Winner and Terry Guiel, DBIA Executive Director posing outside the DBIA office. Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.

Petrary’s winning Holiday Shopping Passport was drawn on January 12 at the Peterborough DBIA.

“I absolutely love downtown Peterborough, I always have. There are so many amazing shops and restaurants. I can't wait until everything opens up again”, said Petrany.

The winning passport came from Things from Mom’s Basement located at 192 Charlotte St.

This year the Holiday Shopping Passport program saw a 15% increase in participation generating a little over 2.6 million in local spending.

“Congratulations to Arlene Petrany on winning this year grand prize draw and a special thanks to everyone who prioritized shopping downtown this holiday season. I am incredibly proud of our community’s steadfast support for our downtown and I am hopeful that local support will continue to flourish in 2022,” said Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Peterborough DBIA.

The Holiday Shopping Passports ran from Nov. 8 to Jan. 12. Throughout the program shoppers were rewarded with a passport stamp for every $10 they spent at a participating location. Each completed passport (20 stamps) were entered into a draw, including three early bird draws of $500 in Boro gift cards.

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Local Businesses and Chamber of Commerce Join Forces To Encourage A Hometown Holiday

The Hometown Holiday campaign, organized by four local chambers of commerce is underway, and encouraging Peterborough and the Kawarthas to support local this holiday season.

“Shopping local is one of these things that we look at as an investment in our communities,” said Joel Wiebe, Peterborough Chamber. “It goes back into all of the things we enjoy about our community.”

He also notes it is a different experience shopping at a local business.

“What we pride ourselves on within our local business community is the customer service. There’s places you can go in and get good quality recommendations, you don’t have to be there for hours, you get what you’re looking for.”

Bob’s Watch Repair has been located on Park Street N. for over 50 years and has seen the rise and fall of many small businesses in Peterborough.

“It’s the same as it always has been, small businesses keep money in town,” said Lauren Falls, Bob Watch Repair. “They keep people employed and they keep the town lively”

In addition to Bob’s Watch Repair, McKnights Fashion, Floral & Gifts has been a mainstay in Peterborough for many years.

What began as a grocery store over 100 years ago has morphed into a one stop shop for gifts, flowers and even clothing.

Christmas is a busy time of year for McKnight’s, according to owner Sam McKnight, but this year is turning out to present different struggles than other years.

“I’ve got Christmas stuff coming in in January that I’ve already paid for, but won’t be able to sell,” he said. “I’m sure I’m not alone in that.”

Because of supply chain issues stores like McKnight’s have been experiencing delays in delivery.

“After the lockdown we need the revenue, I don’t think there’s many small businesses that will be able to go on without it. This is a year that’s not about thriving, it’s about surviving.”

Also noticing supply chain issues is local business Basket Express.

Basket Express provides gourmet baskets with most goods curated from within a 100 km radius of Peterborough.

"Getting things from overseas is a struggle right now, so everything has to be local” said Reni Rausch, owner. “Customers really appreciate local goods, especially in the last couple of years. People are willing to pay a little extra because for local you have to, there’s so many more costs associated with a small business.”

Save Our Soles (S.O.S), an independently run women's boutique located at 384 George St N knows just how much local businesses contribute to the community.

“Shopping local is important for numerous reasons: local fills the store fronts; local supports youth sports and activity programs; and local employees, well, locals,” said Shelby Leonard-Watt, owner S.O.S. “We know that we can’t be all things to everyone. All we ask is that as a local downtown business we are your first thought, and stop, and then when you can’t find it locally, then go online. It shouldn’t be the other way around.”

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