The Path to Holiday Happiness
The Path to Holiday Happiness
America’s First Christmas Store to open this month in Smethport, PA
The Allegheny National Forest (ANF) Region in northwestern Pennsylvania includes over 350,000 acres of outdoor fun, but it also includes a charming collection of shops, restaurants, and things to see and do in the gateway communities surrounding the Forest. America’s First Christmas Store, a longtime favorite holiday shopping destination, will be opening in a new location in Smethport on November 8, 2022.
First opened in 1932, America’s First Christmas Store’s owner, Leonard Brynolf Johnson and his brother, Herb Johnson started out designing and painting custom-made lawn displays for his family and friends. This business quickly took off into a nationally advertised enterprise in Better Homes and Gardens.
By 1940, their business was so successful it became necessary to charter a United Airlines flight to meet delivery deadlines. Smethport’s outdoor displays became nationally known and adorned Frank Sinatra’s home, NATO Headquarters in Naples, Italy, and the President’s Park near the White House. The store expanded to carry Christmas ornaments, Fenton lamps, and a variety of Christmas themed merchandise; it flourished until 2006. In 2006, the owners were forced to close this charming landmark.
Now, in 2022, a new Smethport entrepreneur has decided his hometown was missing one of his all-time favorite shops - America’s First Christmas Store. So he searched and found wonderful, original hand-painted yard decorations from the 1932 store. This includes the jolly elf himself, Santa in his sleigh, with his full team of reindeer including Rudolph with his nose so bright. These original, nostalgic yard decorations are now featured as part of the shop’s décor.
America’s First Christmas Store is once again a destination shopping experience. The shop features a massive Christmas tree decorated entirely with Old World Christmas ornaments. One of these hand-painted ornaments is a wonderful way to mark a special occasion like baby’s first Christmas or a couple’s new house. Another Christmas tree is completely decorated in white and red ornaments, with a red feathered cardinal tree topper.
Christopher Radko ornaments from Poland are another beautiful way to decorate your tree for the season. Pick a traditional Santa, a saintly angel, or a joyous snowman. Fontanini Nativities crafted in Italy are breathtaking in detail and workmanship.
In addition to tree ornaments, the shop is brimming with seasonal home decorations. Along with the traditional snow globes you shake, there are a new series of snow globes in non-traditional shapes like a train, which shake the snow automatically when you plug them in.
One area of the shop features wooden, handcrafted country-style decorations such as reindeer, winter skis, and Christmas trees. There are also a wide variety of gift items such as beautiful Fenton lamps, Christmas mugs, and seasonal home decorations. In the future, the shop will include reproductions of the original outdoor decorations sized for today’s homes.
America’s First Christmas Store will open on November 8. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00am-7:00pm. The store is located within Old Town Smethport, 113 W. Water Street, Smethport, PA. Phone 814-568-2091 with any questions… one of Santa’s helpers will assist you!