The Leader • Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020 • Page 1B
Holiday markets pivot to outdoors By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Many holiday markets will continue this year, some outdoors for the first time and some online. Here’s a rundown of places for you to score the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one – or for yourself. Holiday on 19th Street Friday, Dec. 4, 6-10 p.m. Stroll Houston’s historic 19th Street shopping district. With safety in mind, enjoy a late night of holiday shopping to kick off the season while supporting local business. Hosted by Mary and Moss, Steel Door Realty, Circa Real Estate LLC, Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace, Jubilee, Noted, Vinal Edge Records, We Olive & Wine Bar Houston and Shop Heights 19th Street. 16th Annual Heights Holiday Market Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at The Church at 1548 Heights (corner of 16th Street and Heights Boulevard) This annual holiday market was founded in 2004. In past years it has been hosted at Heights-area homes, but
formation, visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/heightsmercantile-holiday-markettickets-128913717399.
for the safety of artisans and guests, 2020 will be the first outdoor market. Masks will be required. Family and pet friendly. Stop by to show your support for 30 local artisans and check out the new Citizens Truck serving coffee+acai+tea+pops. There will be a Cochinita & Co. taco pop-up and photo ops at the Woman that ROCK art car. First Saturday Arts Market Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 530 W. 19th St. Founded in 2004, First Saturday Arts Market is a curated monthly outdoor fine arts event featuring the works of dozens of visual artists. Located in the Heights, the market showcases paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry and handcrafted items. The entire family is welcome to come enjoy the great outdoors, live music and delicious fare from some of the area’s best gourmet food trucks. Visit http://www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com. Heights Ironworks Holiday Market Saturday, Dec 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 201 W.
The Market at Sawyer Yards Saturday, Dec. 12, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 1502 Sawyer St. The Market at Sawyer Yards debuted in the spring of 2016 and continues on second Saturdays of the month during the holiday season. This curated market hosts a mix of artist mediums with a focus on folk art, the maker is the seller and artisan crafts including packaged specialty foods. Surrounded by the highest concentration of working artists in all of Texas, the market coincides with 2nd Saturday Open Studios, when artists from The Silos at Sawyer Yards, Winter, Spring, Summer, Sabine and Silver Street Studios open their studios to the public. Arts District Houston hosts this eclectic Saturday market. For more information, see http://sawyerstreetmarket.com.
Contributed photo Whether you visit an outdoor market or shop one of the virtual ones, there are ample opportunities to buy.
15th St. The 2nd Annual Heights Ironworks Market is an outdoor event with an open-air studio. Masks required. Featured are 30 local artisans, Whatcha Cravin? food truck,
the new Citizens Truck serving coffee+acai+tea+pops and live Flamenco jazz guitar by John Avecedo. A family friendly event supporting local this Christmas.
Heights Mercantile Holiday Market Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 714 Yale St. Pop-ups on the promenade and pet friendly. For more in-
See Holiday, P. 2B
Shopping trends shift on account of pandemic By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Black Friday is not typically a big sales day for Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop. Post-Thanksgiving shoppers have historically preferred bustling malls and marketplaces to shops like Darlene’s, a small boutique located in a strip center at 10570 Northwest Fwy. But it’s not a typical year, of course, and what is historically the busiest shopping day on the calendar played out differently than usual both locally and beyond. “(Last) Friday was probably busier than what we’ve had in the past,” Darlene’s co-owner Judy Bankhead said. “A lot of times on this particular weekend, we’re not overly run with customers. They’re all out at the malls and stuff like that. So I probably did have more walk-ins. I had a great day on Friday.”
With many shoppers avoiding crowded places like malls because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in-person traffic plummeted last weekend but online sales spiked on a national level. According to a report by CNBC, which cited data from Sensormatic Solutions and Adobe Analytics, Black Friday foot traffic fell by more than 52 percent compared to 2019 while online spending increased by nearly 22 percent. Bankhead and two other local business owners said they did about as well as could be expected last weekend, considering the circumstances of the pandemic. They also said the customers who came to their stores seemed to have a plan to make purchases and refrained from leisurely window shopping. Bankhead said some customers called first to inquire about products and entered the shop “with a purpose.”
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Koryn Wright is the co-owner of Threadfare Children’s Boutique at 1207 W. 34th St. Suite 100.
Janet Thuot, the co-owner of Threadfare Children’s Boutique at 1207 W. 34th St. Suite 100, said just about every customer who showed up
on Nov. 27 made a purchase. Duane Myers, the co-owner of C&D Hardware & Gifts at 314 E. 11th St., said the experience was similar at his
store last weekend. “Folks have an item in mind,” he said. “They’re pretty much task-oriented.” Myers said C&D, which generally sees a surge in gift and holiday decoration sales at this time of year, might have set a sales record last Saturday if not for inclement weather. He said the store also did well last Sunday. Bankhead and Thuot both said their stores did more business on Friday than Saturday. They also utilized online sales to complement the in-person visits. “We were very pleased,” Thuot said. “Our neighborhood has been very supportive of Threadfare.” The local businesses hope they continue to see good sales numbers throughout December, with Myers saying the first weekend of the month is historically C&D’s most profitable weekend of the year. Thuot said Threadfare has a Christmas-themed
promotion – in which kids can pick up form letters to Santa Claus, fill them out and bring them back to the store to mail them and then receive return letters – to encourage customers to make multiple visits. According to the CNBC report, some Americans are spreading out their shopping throughout the holiday season instead of doing it all in a short time period. Bankhead and Thuot acknowledged that this holiday shopping season is unlike others, and they’re trying to navigate it as successfully and safely as they can. At Darlene’s, for instance, no more than six or seven customers are allowed inside the store at any given time in order to promote social distancing. “Business-wise, sales-wise, we’re doing fine. It’s OK,” Bankhead said. “But it’s not the same. The whole atmosphere is different.”
Business Briefs: Neighbors show love to area toymaker By Betsy Denson
Studemont, an approximately 35,000-square foot, two-story building with street level retail below loft-like offices opening to terraces, will welcome its inaugural tenants, including SheSpace, Central Bank and Milano Nails.
betsy@theleadernews.com
Gene Love, an 86-year-old resident of Oak Forest, has been making wooden toys for 30 years. “My youngest daughter got me started,” Love said. Because of COVID-19, many of the craft shows where Love sells his wares have been cancelled. So his neighbor, Yuliana Dixon, posted photos of some of his creations online. “Gene is old-school, doesn’t use computer or gadgets,” Dixon said. “He makes all toys himself using only United States-made supplies like paints and lumber.” The day after the social media posts, Love had 30 new orders. He said the toys are ideal for the 4-and-under set. There are lots of trains, trucks and animals, but he can make most anything. In past years, he has also made rocking horses, or rather a rocking snail of his own design. “It’s my life,” Love said, noting that after the passing of his wife, his craft gives him purpose. “I stay busy.” Love can be reached at 713686-6032, or interested parties can private message Dixon to facilitate an order. NUTRISHOP opens in Lower Heights California-based NUTRISHOP has unveiled its first central Houston location at 2857 Katy Fwy., Ste. 118 in Lower Heights, the 24-acre mixed-use district developed
Gene Love
by Gulf Coast Commercial Group just west of downtown. NUTRISHOP joins a 37,000-square foot block occupied by Total Wine and Ulta. The 1,442-square foot location offers dietary and nutritional supplements and services. Clients can purchase meal plans, nutritional coaching, body composition scans, transformation challenges, corporate wellness programming and more. Recent additions at Lower Heights include marquee signage and a landmark mural by Guatemalan-born graffiti artist Gelson Danilo Lemus Lopez, aka w3r3on3, installed off the I-10 entry as well as completion of a landscaped, crushed granite hike and bike trail running along the eastern edge of the property, linking the development via the MKT Trail to Stude Park. Also open is Alexan Lower Heights, the district’s 372-unit multi-family hub developed by Trammell Crow Residential occupying 5 acres off Summer Street. Early next year, 1440
SERJobs partnership to help unemployed SERJobs, a nonprofit that supports people in the Texas Gulf Coast Region who come from low-income backgrounds or who have significant barriers to employment, is joining forces with Harris County and several other workforce development organizations to help 1,000 job seekers before the start of 2021. The Houston nonprofit trains, educates and places more than 6,000 individuals annually and aims to help address increased unemployment due to COVID-19. Interested individuals can apply online at serhouston.org or call 713-773-6000 to schedule an enrollment appointment. “COVID-19 has had a huge impact on Houstonians, and we’re proud to offer some solutions to close out a rough year with a lot of hope for our jobseekers,” says Sheroo Mukhtiar, executive director and CEO of SERJobs. “We’re thankful to be teaming up with some powerful partners to make it happen.” BOGO online journaling class Barbie Atkinson, the owner of Catalyst Counseling, LLC, is offering a buy one, gift one
journaling class on Zoom. The class will be held Sunday, Jan. 10 from 6-7:15 p.m. and is $25. When someone signs up, they will also designate the recipient. The gift can be timed for a holiday or New Year’s gift. “Therapeutic journaling is both a science and an art,” Atkinson said. “Expressive writing can offer clarity and insight and promotes emotional management for safe, effective catharsis, and it seems to accelerate resolutions and helps to manage stress. It’s truly selfdirected change.” See www.catalyst-counseling.com for more details. Pup Stop on Wakefield hosting pet photo shoot The Pup Stop on Wakefield is hosting a holiday photo shoot for pet families from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 12. Photos will
be taken by professional photographer Fetching Snapshots. A requested $20 donation will go to the Animal Justice League. The Pup Stop is a neighbor-
hood dog treat box with free treats. Every month the local residents who created the Pup Stop choose an animal rescue group to support.
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