Shoppers escaping frigid temperatures packed the halls of the Wyoming Valley Mall on Saturday for its largest craft show to date.
The Valentine’s Craft Show, hosted in the mall’s common areas, featured 122 local crafters and small businesses.
“We love supporting local,” said Breanna Yashkus, assistant general manager of the Wyoming Valley Mall. “There’s so much talent in this area, and we really love showcasing that.”
Jewelry, chocolates, candles, and toys were some of the homemade goods for sale.
Yashkus said foot traffic was already high just an hour after the show opened.
“Turnout has been amazing,” she said. “We were honestly really nervous with the weather, but we have a really great crowd.”
Christopher Concert, owner of Woodshed Chocolates and former Swoyersville mayor, did not have doubts that customers would come to support his chocolate hobby.
“People love my chocolate peanut butter eggs, so I knew they were going to come for them,” Concert said. “To have this in the mall is incredible, and Breanna does an amazing job promoting it.”
Concert said it’s not the first time he participated in a mall-run craft fair, and he saw similar turnouts at previous fairs.
“It means a lot for small hobby people and crafters to have a place to go,” he said. “The crowd is here. People still support this mall.”
Michelle Rondon was one of hundreds to attend. Rondon said she came to support one of her coworkers, Theresa Ide, owner of WaysIde Reclamation’s.
Ide’s stand featured various pieces of upcycled jewelry made from thrifted items, like mahjong and Scrabble game pieces.
“I find interesting items that have been discarded. I repurpose them into something else,” she said. “I just try to make old things new again.”
Ide said the turnout was better than various craft fairs she recently attended at other locations.
“I just think that it’s great that the mall is coming back.”
Other vendors, like Patti Opsitos, of Crafts by Patti, and Sarah McHenry, of Duckville Soap Co., shared similar sentiments, noting turnout and sales were high.
“It’s one of my favorite craft fairs in the area,” McHenry said.
The Wyoming Valley Mall is planning two more craft shows for later this year: a Father’s Day and summer-themed fair on June 13 and a Thanksgiving and Christmas-themed one on Nov. 14.
The mall will also host Heart Day, which benefits the American Heart Association, from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 21. There will be raffle baskets, games, and activities.
Concert said shows and events like these help to revitalize the mall.
“The naysayers are horrible, but you’ve got to look above that. They’re trying to keep this mall alive.”
He noted craft fairs help support small businesses, while simultaneously bringing business to the mall.
“It’s a win-win situation.”
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