Local Stores Prepare For Holiday Open Houses This Weekend

Upper Cumberland small businesses prepare for their upcoming holiday open houses to kickoff holiday sales.

Several local businesses reported that early starts to holiday open houses help boost shopper traffic. Baxter’s American Farmhouse Owner and Operator Amy Allen said early sales give citizens more opportunity to use her products for holiday decorations. Cookeville’s Lexi Jade’s Boutique Owner and Operator Lexi Smith said local businesses around her band together for the open house.

“We already have Mistletoe Market going on and it’s right here behind us and all of us small businesses kind of got together on the West Side and chose this weekend because we thought to kick off Christmas sooner and get everybody in the holiday spirit,” Smith said. “And we thought if we all came together it could bring a bigger crowd out as well.”

Allen said that half if not more of her yearly income is made in the holiday season, while Smith said her daily income doubles. Both Allen and Smith said while they usually serve gracious and understanding customers, holiday crowds can get quite hectic.

“It’s difficult to keep up with anyways,” Allen said. “But especially when it’s just me and one of my daughters.”

Smith said that the earlier holiday shopping starts, the more ready and willing locals get to participate.

“It gets people more excited for the holiday season,” Smith said. “When small businesses start earlier we feel like it gets them more apt to shop local instead of big block stores.”

Lexi Jades Boutique is located at North Cedar Avenue and will be hosting its open house Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. American Farmhouse is located on Broad Street and will be hosting its open house Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Allen’s second store Legacy House located on the Smithville Square will be hosting a weekend-long open house November 10th thru the 12th.