“Local jewelry, grocery stores see last-minute Valentine's rush”

Local jewelry, grocery stores see last-minute Valentine's rush

Posted: 13 Feb 2011 06:25 PM PST

Many retailers are open special hours or make special arrangements for customers.

Salesman Chris Morgan, left, packs up a gold rose with pearls Sunday for Kelvin Zook, of Birdsboro, at Oletowne Jewelers in West Manchester Township. Zook, who was working in York, wanted to get his wife something special for Valentine's Day to cheer her up because their son is moving out of the house. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Paul Kuehnel)

Chris Toms, left, and his daughter, Kya, 5, of Manchester Township, are assisted Sunday by Sue Koskey, right, at Oletowne Jewelers in West Manchester Township. The family, along with two brothers, were picking out Trollbeads to add to a bracelet for Toms' wife and Kya's mom for Valentine's Day. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Paul Kuehnel)

York, PA - It was Sunday, the day before Valentine's Day, and Kelvin Zook still didn't have a gift for his wife.

Zook, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician from Birdsboro, was on assignment in the York area when he heard a radio advertisement for gold roses at Oletowne Jewelers in West Manchester Township. Zook used his GPS to find the store and pick up a rose for his wife.

Zook normally doesn't do a lot for Valentine's Day, he said. Usually he just gets his wife a card. This year, though, is different.

His 24-year-old son is getting ready to move out of the house, and his wife is sad about the move.

Getting the rose, Zook said, should lift her spirits.

'A good idea'

Oletowne has had a good Valentine's Day season so far, owner Jamie Bovender said late last week. The store was about even or maybe slightly ahead of last year's numbers

Oletowne customers usually look for gifts for less than $500 for Valentine's Day, Bovender said, whereas they look for higher-end pieces for Christmas. The store's 24-karat gold roses, an Oletowne Valentine's Day staple, start at $99.95, sales clerk Sue Koskey said.

Bovender expected Saturday and Monday to be the store's two biggest days of the month. It also opened for four hours Sunday, when it's normally closed, to give people a chance to shop for last-minute gifts.

Carole & Co. Jewelers, also in West Manchester Township, normally operates from Tuesday through Saturday each week. When store owner Carole Davis looked at sales numbers from previous Valentine's Days, she decided to open her shop today.

"I guess the bulk of everybody pops in on that last day," she said.

Weis Markets also made special arrangements for last-minute shoppers, designating "Lover's Lane" checkouts for anyone buying Valentine's Day merchandise. The store planned to operate the checkouts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through today.

"It's making things much more convenient," said Bob Bradshaw, manager of Weis on Roosevelt Avenue in West Manchester Township. The store also concentrated its Valentine's Day merchandise, including flowers, stuffed animals and candy, at its main entrance.

Joe Reed, a Weis shopper from Manchester Township, used the lane Sunday afternoon to buy a card and ice cream cake for his wife.

He didn't notice the "Lover's Lane" designation until someone pointed it out to him later.

"I just noticed the short line," Reed said. "That was a good idea."

'Dump Your X's Stuff'

Goodwill Keystone Area plans to host a "Dump Your X's Stuff Drive" today. People are encouraged to donate jewelry, picture frames or clothes that belonged to an ex. For more information, call 525-6210.

DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- PAUL KUEHNEL

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