Chestnut Hill pop-up shop to benefit hungry families

Starting Wednesday, holiday shoppers in Chestnut Hill can take advantage of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s first full-fledged pop-up shop.

From Nov. 28 through Dec. 23, the temporary store, set-up inside 8232 Germantown Ave., will offer an assortment of holiday-inspired gift ideas, such as ornaments, wreaths and embroidered pillows.

The shop will also feature various home décor items such as candle-ariums, which are soy candles in decorative urns that can be repurposed as plant containers. Soups, sauces, and spices will also be available as well garden gifts from PHS’ Meadowbrook Farms.

Patricia Musolf, merchandising manager with PHS, said the organization hopes the store will help increase its visibility as well as highlight local efforts in the community.

“We wanted to certainly spread the word about PHS, the mission and bring home the City Harvest program that we raise funds for,” said Musolf.

City Harvest works to provide families with fresh produce as a means of addressing hunger issues.

Musolf said a portion of the proceeds from the shop will benefit the organizations’ programs like City Harvest, which feeds 1,000 families per week through partnerships with community gardens. The funds will also enable the organization to continue its greening efforts.

Items in the store will range in price from $4 to $200.

“A big goal for us is to walk in our shop and not walk out empty handed. If someone doesn’t have a lot to spend, there is an inexpensive item, but if someone wants to spend some more, there is something as well,” said Mitch Shultz with PHS.

Laurie Wightman, Chestnut Hill’s retail recruiter, said she believes that PHS is the perfect tenant for the newly renovated 440 square-foot space.

Wightman said PHS is the first tenant is the space, which was donated by Bowman Properties, which owns the storefront. She’s optimistic that the PHS shop will attract people to the location.

The store will be open Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.