How to get customers to shop at lower end of Hill

by PAT STOKES

Well, it’s August, and it’s hot as blazes as I write this, and that’s not the greatest combination for big things happening on the Hill, in terms of shop activity, that is. Nevertheless, a mini-survey I did a few weeks ago — covering five new-ish shops that sell clothes, decor and related things — yielded glowing reports from the shop owners who were obviously contented, and happy that they had chosen Chestnut Hill for their retail venture.

In a future column I’ll write about the conversations we had and about the innovative ideas these women are coming up with. However one idea is so ingenious I’ll tell you about it right now: It’s a way to make “downhill” shoppers go to the top of the Hill, and especially to make top-of-the-Hill shoppers aware of all the intriguing shops at the lower end. These owners suggest calling the lower part SOHA “South of Hartwell Avenue.” I think that’s positively brilliant. Later I’ll have details: i.e., whose idea it was, how to market it (maybe with a banner in each locale), and the Business Association’s response.

Chestnut Hill always looks its prettiest in spring and summer and this year is no exception. We need more street trees to replace quite a few that we lost; I understand that their replacement is definitely in the works. Also, it gave everyone a real lift this week to note that the parking lots on each side of Evergreen Avenue have been handsomely repaved, courtesy of the Chestnut Hill District fund. Nice work! What a difference it makes!

Some news-notes: on the Avenue in September, you’re going to see another beauty-salon-spa, called Diamond Spa, Inc., which will appear in the former Simply Cottage space, and also for personal makeovers, the Hahn Gallery space across the street will be occupied by 3000 BC, when it moves from the southwestern corner of Willow Grove and Germantown Avenues. My goodness, how beautiful are we all going to be? Let me count the ways: Those two “spas” just mentioned, plus Spa Elysium on Bethlehem Pike, plus Fringe near Roller’s, plus Rainbow Nail Salon at 8024 the Ave, add up to five, in my math. All in our own little Chestnut Hill village. Wow! Any day now, the Events Committee will have to schedule a beauty pageant.

We’re also getting another bank. Commerce Bank will fill the gap left by the Gap. I think that adds up to six altogether.

Two shop categories people tell me they’d like to see on the Hill are, one, lingerie: we had one on Highland Avenue, presently Cardonick Chiropractic., but it closed a few years ago. People also want a linen shop. There was one in part of the present El Quetzal space. That shop also closed. Each of these shops closed partly due to personal reasons of the owners, not from lack of business, so it would have been wise at the time for someone to have taken the initiative to hunt down some similar stores to replace the ones that left.

One other interesting item showed up as a result of my travels on the Hill today: I learned that a new small art gallery is opening, around September 1, in the space that previously housed Artisans Too, at 8117 Germantown Ave. They’re having a grand opening on September 16, and are working on the place now. Go. Peek in the window. It’s going to be a charming little gallery.

I have fun tramping up and down the Avenue, encountering many of you who read this column regularly, and who always have kind words to say about it. Much appreciated, too. Stay tuned. See you on the Avenue.