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Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe Celebrates Grand Opening in Bethlehem
May 26th, 2024 | In The News
Written by Amiee Goldy for Patch.com
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) celebrated the grand opening of the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe at 505 Main Street on Thursday, May 23. Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds joined the nonprofit’s leaders at HBMS’s Visitor Center & Museum Shop for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor the shop’s opening.
“We have a weekend full of activities to celebrate our opening, including giveaways, discounts, demonstrations and tastings from local vendors whose wonderful merchandise fills our shelves, helping to create a unique shopping experience that connects us to the heart of Bethlehem’s community,” said LoriAnn Wukitsch, president and CEO of HBMS.
Co-hosted by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Bethlehem Association, the ribbon cutting featured remarks by Wukitsch, Mayor Reynolds, and Paige Nicholas, vice president of major events for the Chamber. A town crier alerted Main Street visitors as the afternoon event approached, and Shoppe guests were treated to giveaways and special pricing to commemorate the grand opening.
The Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe, inspired by the building’s original purpose as a dry goods store in Victorian Bethlehem, is a retail experience featuring the atmosphere of a mid-19th-century dry goods shop with a curated selection of modern goods reminiscent of the historical past. Stofanak Custom Cabinetry created cabinets for the shop, which features merchandise from local vendors, including Herberry Candles, Paisley & Co., and Mad Catter Coffee Roasters.
We’re adding vibrancy and another reason for people to come downtown and spend time on Main Street,” said Mayor Reynolds.
To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe is hosting a fun-filled weekend with festivities from Friday, May 24 to Sunday, May 26. Shoppers enjoy 10% off on all purchases through Monday, May 27, and giveaways, samples, and demonstrations all weekend. Festivities include:
- Friday, May 24: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hippie Momma’s Apothecary will be holding demonstrations and discussions about aromatherapy.
- Saturday, May 25: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mad Catter Coffee will be handing out free samples; Ken Smith, the tinsmith, will be holding demonstrations.
- Sunday, May 26: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Paisley & Company will hold “Make Your Own Perfume.”
The shop’s building was constructed in 1832 by John Sebastian Goundie as a connecting structure to his home, serving as a dry goods store managed by his daughter and son-in-law. In 1852, Goundie sold the property to Louis Beckel, who added a third floor to the building and incorporated decorative elements. In the mid-2000s, HBMS rediscovered and opened the original doorway between the Goundie House and the store, allowing visitors to walk between the spaces.
HBMS partnered with Bethlehem-based architecture firm Alloy5 to design the space. The firm is known for incorporating a building’s rich history into contemporary designs and previously worked on the Berwick Youth Center, Seven Generations Charter School and Lehigh University’s Goodman Stadium.
“Remember, when you shop at the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe, your purchase helps support the historic sites and museums in Bethlehem,” said Wukitsch.
More information on the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe is on HBMS’s website at www.historicbethlehem.org/visit-us/schropp-shoppe/.
