February 22, 2006 Issue                                               

©2005 The Chestnut Hill Local

Candles burning brightly on Hill for Cathy McGuckin
by PAT STOKES

Emily Bowlan (left) and Cathy McGuckin at the Candle Shop, 8432 Germantown Ave. (Photo by Pat Stokes)

Just couldn’t resist the quote from Edna Saint Vincent Millay, “My candle burns at both ends: it will not last the night.” If ever “burning the candle at both ends” were a designation for hard work, persistence, know-how and dedication to the job, then let’s hear it for Cathy McGuckin, a prime example of a good old American success story built on all of the above.

Maybe it all filtered down from her German-born grandfather, who in his youth earned a livelihood pushing a plumber’s supply cart and doing plumbing repair jobs. “Slow and steady,” he built a highly successful business near the Philadelphia airport, married and raised a family, including granddaughter Cathy.

Early in her working career, Cathy earned a position as manager-trainer with Estee Lauder Cosmetics Company, a job she very much enjoyed. However, since she had a teaching background, she somehow felt she should follow that star, especially since at one point she was offered a full-time teaching job. Fine and dandy, but after those seven years with Estee Lauder, retailing was very much in her blood.

One day, while still teaching-but-thinking-retailing, she spied a small ad in the classified section of the Chestnut Hill Local. It was for a small shop on Highland Avenue, next to the present Wawa. It had been there since 1958, and was now for sale. The year was 1989. Cathy bought the business. She remembers the date — January 11.

Only four years later, in 1993, the present space at 8432 Germantown Ave. became available. “Instantly,” she says, after they moved, “business improved so much it was if the heavens opened up.” (Location, location, location.) Things were great. Then in 1996, “the bridge closed,” a reference to the bridge at the end of Germantown Avenue that was closed for reconstruction for two years, requiring would-be Chestnut Hill customers coming from Conshohocken, Main Line and other points to take a longer, more circuitous route to get here. Using advertising in widely circulated small newspapers, however, the Candle Shop survived. It was a tough two years though, for many of the smaller shops on the Hill.

Although candles for the home have year-round appeal, by the very nature of the merchandise, the Candle Shop reaches its peak of popularity in December, being a “must” for many devoted customers to stock up on candles as Christmas presents as well as décor.

Of course, the candles are burning brighter than ever now that Yankee Candle has departed from the 8500 block of Germantown Avenue. Cathy provided a bit of info about that event. It seems that early on, Yankee Candle Co. really “made” the scented candle business, with quality, well-researched products, so she originally featured plenty of Yankee products in two displays, giving a bit more support to that line than to others. Then, without any announcement, Yankee opened its shop one block away. Of course, Cathy immediately discontinued Yankee. That meant starting from scratch to search for other makers who had recently appeared, offering the best scented candles that can be found. It was one of those fortuitous happenings that led to new discoveries.

Cathy insists she now carries the largest collection of fine scented candles to be found anywhere, including New York. She explains that she “romances” her customers to learn their preferences, so naturally, said customers come from far away, including center city, to pick up their favorites. On the shelves you can also find an impressive collection of beeswax candles, as well as the classic stick wax tapers. It seems that the candle industry started to expand in the early ’90s, so shop space is packed to the last inch. Nevertheless, Cathy has made room to introduce fine body products, particularly soaps in gentle fragrances, some from Europe, some from California.

So there you have it: a pleasant shop that can light up what may be a ho-hum day. Cathy, is assisted part-time by Emily Bowlan and Marlanah Wolf.

Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Phone, 215-248-1459. See you on the Avenue.

Across the Avenue from the Candle Shop, the attractive window display at Bird in Hand Consignment Shop beckons. Stop in and browse for tempting home accessories. Each purchase benefits community maintenance.