A old wagon, decorated for the seasons, occupied the front yard of Little Farmhouse Treasures on East High Street in Sanatoga.
POTTSTOWN PA – Laura Lucci would like a little time off, and given the frantic pace at which most owners of small businesses must operate, few can blame her. So after nine years of successfully retailing home goods, country-styled gifts and custom furniture from a converted, quaint brick house at 2813 E. High St., Pottstown PA, Lucci has announced plans to close her store, Little Farmhouse Treasures, in February (2011).
“Although I am slightly saddened to see it come to an end … I am looking forward to a much less hectic schedule,” Lucci explained to customers in a recent e-mail. “My kids and my husband are my life,” she added, “and we are extremely excited for our future, with exciting new things to come.”
Laura and Chris Lucci and their children.
Lucci’s shop, which was started Jan. 1, 2002, has been chocked over the years with primitives, candles, artworks and crafts, reproductions, an occasional antique or two, and a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. She relishes seasonal selling, and an old wagon on her shop’s front lawn usually was decorated for the time of year.
Sometimes her business worked on the honor system. For many Octobers, Lucci would fill a roped-off portion of the lawn near her store’s parking lot with pumpkins grouped by size. If the store was open, customers could pay for their choices inside. If it was closed, a sign on the store’s front porch indicated the pumpkins’ cost, and customers were trusted to leave payments in a nearby lock box.
The store often bustled with patrons during gift-giving holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, as well as during the spring, when many area families moved into new homes or dressed up the ones they already occupied.
“I am thankful that business has been good to me over the years,” she wrote. “Without my customers, my shop would not have been so successful. I am thankful for the friendships I have made … and hope that Little Farmhouse Treasures has helped bring warmth and charm into your homes.”
The store’s closing sale began earlier this month, with most items except furniture offered at prices of up to 50-percent off, and will continue until she locks the doors a final time on Feb. 27 (2011). During January and February, the shop will open only on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ever the business realist, Lucci suspects she will still have some goods left after the closing. She’s got a remedy for that, too. “We will be having two huge yard sales this spring (and) summer to sell the remainder items that are in storage,” she wrote, “so please keep your eyes open.”
Photos from Little Farmhouse Treasures
The Main Street Post scanned available news feeds and found these stories of local interest.
