Lehman's to celebrate the season with Spring Open House, April 15-17
Spring has arrived and things are hopping at Lehman's. The Kidron store is gearing up for its upcoming Spring Open House April 15-17, which will feature demonstrations, free samples and giveaways. The public is invited to stop by and watch a local chandler make candles, snack on barbecued beef (cooked outdoors on a Lehman's grill), sample homemade ice cream or fresh caramel corn, enjoy live music by the Average White Broads and much more.Throughout the event, Lehman's employees will demonstrate how the store's own butter churn, grain mill and apple peeler are assembled. Visitors will be able to talk to a wood stove specialist, local organic gardener and local author. Factory reps will be on hand to talk about grills, stoves, fireplaces and more. Longtime employee Pearl Taylor will sign Lehman's exclusive 55th anniversary cookbook and there will be free craft activities for kids.
Lehman's is sponsoring several giveaways during the open house. A $55 gift certificate will be awarded every hour, and visitors can register to win an $8,500 set of Elmira retro appliances (drawing to be held in December).
"There are three reasons we wanted to do this," said Glenda Lehman Ervin, Lehman's vice president of marketing. "The first of these is to highlight our new housewares department. Last year we expanded our gardening room because of the tremendous interest in gardening. This year, we expanded the food processing section because if you grow it, you need to process it.
With the recent renovation, the store's food preservation and processing area has tripled in size to 3,500-square-feet. Several walls and an interior ceiling were removed to create an area that is bright and cheerful, thanks to its sunny yellow paint and new skylights in the roof.
Customers can find everything from cherry pitters to canning equipment to cookware in the new area. "If you like to eat, and particularly if you like to cook, you will love it," Lehman Ervin said. Jean Geiser, product specialist for housewares at Lehman's, is pleased with the new display possibilities and additional space. "We've had fun setting this room up," she said. "I've been able to embellish and add more items to a lot of the lines. We're really excited about the cookie cutter wall." The wall is lined with hundreds of metal cookie cutters in various shapes and sizes.
Another reason for the open house is to celebrate the store's 55th anniversary. "So many people visit the store from so far away, we decided to spread out the celebration throughout the year," Lehman Ervin said. In addition to the Spring Open House, there will be special events in July, September and December.
The third purpose for the Spring Open House is to focus on "learning the Lehman's lifestyle." Lehman Ervin told the story of a little girl who watched a demonstrator churning butter in the store. When the cream solidified and the butter appeared, the child said, "I missed it. When did you put the butter in?"
Lehman Ervin sees teachable moments like these as part of the store's mission.
She describes the Lehman's lifestyle as eating healthy food that is fresh, homegrown or local, and home-cooked. Food preservation is a component of this lifestyle as well. The Lehman's lifestyle is nothing new; rather, it is a return to the way people used to cook and eat before the advent of pre-processed foods.
"Come in and see what's new," Lehman Ervin said. Activities are scheduled at various times throughout this festive and educational event, so check the website at www.lehmans.com or call the store for a schedule.