EASTON, Pa. — With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there’s no need to worry about finding that special someone.
Or, in this case, that special “something,” if you’re looking around Easton.
The Downtown District is aiming to become a Valentine’s date destination this month with the launch of “A Match Made in Easton.”
The promotion connects businesses via a receipt swap for extra special savings or fun exclusive items.
“It's great if you wanted to get a little Valentine's Day gift from Rachel, maybe a candle, and then you can come here and get a sweet, and put them together for your Valentine."Andriana Gionis, co-owner, Sweet Girlz Bakery
Running Feb. 9-18, the program has downtown businesses coupling up to offer unique deals and promotions for customers who present receipts from their partner shops.
The program is a child of the Greater Easton Development Partnership's Main Street Initiative, which aims to help small, local businesses.
“With Valentine's Day right around the corner, this idea came about for coupling up the businesses and really kind of creating these matches, showing our love for each other as businesses and organizations," Communications Media Manager Jessica Ferrara said.
"And how well we can work together in the sense of, yes, we're all personally or professionally benefiting, but it's really more about benefiting the community as a whole.”
Drinks, seafood, candles and candy
Swinging by Tolino Vineyards for a bottle of blush? Bring your receipt to 3rd & Ferry Fish Market and score 10% off your bill for a romantic seafood dinner.
Prefer a cool and quirky gift with a fresh cup of coffee? Swing by Yellow Balloon Consignment and take a receipt to Quadrant Book Mart for 10% off your purchase or a free fresh coffee. When you bring your Quadrant receipt over to Yellow Balloon, you get $5 off a $25 purchase.
“It's going to be a great crossover between both of our businesses [for those] who might not have shopped with each other before."Rachel Zanders, owner of Easton Candle Company
Andriana Gionis, co-owner of Sweet Girlz Bakery, said she was thrilled to participate in the event, saying she thought it will help foster stronger connections between a downtown business community that already holds close ties.
Being able to partner up with a fellow business owner just a short stroll away from her own shop was a welcome initiative, Gionis said.
Rachel Zanders, owner of Easton Candle Company, said she loves participating in such promotions to connect both businesses and shoppers.
“It's going to be a great crossover between both of our businesses [for those] who might not have shopped with each other before,” Zanders said.
Gionis said it’s also a fun way to offer your beau a cute gift for the holiday at a discount.
“It's great if you wanted to get a little Valentine's Day gift from Rachel, maybe a candle, and then you can come here and get a sweet, and put them together for your Valentine,” Gionis said.
If you want to really lean into the Valentine vibe, pick up some chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes and a Valentine candle, featuring fragrances of roses and orchids.
'Fell in love with Easton'
The retail promotion complements the launch of another initiative, a community art project called “Love, Easton” that has led to the creation of 28,127 hearts of all sizes and materials to fill windows and public spaces throughout Easton, running from Jan. 9 to March 9.
For a full list of promotions, visit the "Match Made in Easton" page on the Shop Downtown Easton site.
“He wined and dined me all over Easton, we went to all of the events, we bounced around to all the restaurants and the bars. We did everything here and we fell in love with Easton."Communications Media Manage Jessica Ferrara
No guarantees, but you just might find the perfect pairing for a heartfelt Valentine’s Day in Easton.
After all, the vibrant Downtown scene is what led Ferrara to her own "Match Made in Easton."
“I'm actually from New Jersey, and my husband is from the Poconos, and Easton was sort of like our meeting point when we were dating,” Ferrara said.
“He wined and dined me all over Easton, we went to all of the events, we bounced around to all the restaurants and the bars. We did everything here and we fell in love with Easton.
"And because we fell in love with Easton, when we got married, we bought a home here. I now work here and we have a baby here and we plan on raising our family here.”
