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‘Step back in time’ : Historic Bethlehem’s new retail shop to pay homage to its past
May 21st, 2024 | In The News
Written by Ryan Kneller for WFMZ
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Inspired by the original 19th century establishment that operated at the same site, a new store opening this week in downtown Bethlehem will allow visitors to peruse and purchase a curated selection of modern goods reminiscent of the historical period.
Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe, at 505 Main St., will be a charming store inspired by Bethlehem’s original dry goods shop, which was owned by John and Maria Elizabeth Schropp in the mid-1800s.
A grand opening celebration will be held 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place at 4:30 p.m. Costumed guides will be on hand to elevate the experience.
The store’s opening is tied to the renovation of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Site’s Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe, which includes restored flooring, press tin ceilings, and an updated floor plan to improve guest flow.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites invites shoppers to “step back in time and explore the commercial and cultural heritage of Bethlehem past with the unique retail experience at the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe.”
“Thanks to the extensive and well-preserved records of both the original Schropps’ store and the boarding school for girls in Bethlehem, whose students were frequent patrons of the store, we have a clear picture of what was sold in the store in the 1800s,” said Brett Peters, Historic Bethlehem’s curator of collections and exhibitions, in a written statement.
“Much of it was merchandise we still buy – everything from groceries and stationery to hardware, China, and kitchen supplies. Almost everything a 19th-century household needed could be purchased at the local dry goods store.”
Maria Elizabeth Schropp was the daughter of Moravian town brewer and businessman John Sebastian Goundie, who lived next door to the dry goods shop in what is believed to be Bethlehem’s first brick residence – constructed in 1810.
Goundie built the connecting structure that would house the dry goods store in 1832.
In recent decades, the 505 Main St. space that Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe will occupy has been home to Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe, which is relocating to the adjacent 1810 Goundie House, according to LoriAnn Wukitsch, president and CEO of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.
The Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe will feature “coffee, tea, housewares and other items that the community would have needed during the 1800s,” Wukitsch said.
Shoppers will be able to browse modern goods from local vendors, including Herberry Candles, Paisley & Co., and Mad Catter Coffee Roasters.
“We decided that as we’re getting closer to the potential World Heritage inscription, we wanted to take this particular building back to its origins,” Wukitsch added.
“So, the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe is going to be reflective of things that you would have needed for your home, like a sewing kit, cooking utensils or an eyeglass kit, during that time period.”
Items will be sourced from local artisans and producers as much as possible, Wukitsch said.
The shop also will carry items made by blacksmiths at the 1750 Smithy down the street.
“In fact, the blacksmiths are making some of the elements for our display pieces as well,” Wukitsch said. “So, we’re really focusing on things that’ll commemorate and relate to Bethlehem’s past.”
In moving Historic Bethlehem’s Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe next door to the 1810 Goundie House, the space’s previous tenant, Marché Maison Vintage Market – featuring French cottage-inspired designs and decor, relocated to Historic Bethlehem’s Kemerer Museum at 427 N. New St., Bethlehem.
The Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe’s new location is a good fit as the Goundie House features smaller rooms that are more conducive to intimate meet and greets, Wukitsch said.
“The Goundie House is where we’re going to now meet and greet visitors and be able to talk about the heritage tourism that’ll be available to guests coming to town,” Wukitsch said.
“We’ll have times that people can come in, sit and learn a little bit more about how they want to spend their time.”
Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe is opening with the support of design partner Alloy5, a Bethlehem-based architecture and design firm, and Keystone Savings Foundation, which supports housing assistance, local education, not-for-profit medical facilities, not-for-profit community groups and similar types of organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley region.
“As president and CEO of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, I’m proud to have Keystone Foundation’s support in creating a Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe that will appeal to regional, national and international visitors,” Wukitsch said.
“It’s an investment for our community today and tomorrow. We have a historic footprint on Main Street and this new space will enable us to provide visitors a more intimate and tailored experience in Historic Bethlehem.”
Grand opening specials will include: Aromatherapy demonstrations and discussions by Hippie Momma’s Apothecary on Friday (time information to come); tinsmith demonstrations by Ken Smith on Saturday (time information to come); and coffee brewing and free samples from Mad Catter Coffee (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and “Make Your Own Perfume” event by Paisley & Company (1-4 p.m.) on Sunday.
You can also enjoy 10% off on all purchases through Monday, May 27.
