BERLIN– Six months after being named “America’s Coolest Small Town” in an online vote hosted by Budget Travel Magazine, Berlin’s business is predictably booming.
Lititz, Pa., last year’s “coolest” town, saw a 30 percent uptick in sales. Berlin shopkeepers say the same thing is happening here in 2014.
“It’s been a very busy summer,” said Terri Sexton, owner of Treasure Chest on 20 North Main Street. “What I have found is that a lot of people that come over that are tourists don’t necessarily know about the designation until they get here, but I’m seeing a lot of people that live within a day trip or a two-hour drive coming to town because they haven’t been here in so long. They’re discovering what we have here in Berlin and it’s been packed all summer long.
“We’re a destination now,” Sexton continued. “You can come and spend the day and shop and eat, and I think it’s all sustainable because of what we have to offer. We were the coolest small town for 2014, but we will never lose the designation of coolest small town. We will always be the coolest small town.”
Lynn Kelly, an employee at Bruder Hill on 25 Commerce Street, said the shop has seen a “huge increase” in sales since the designation.
“A lot of people from out of town that have seen it said they had to come to Berlin to check it out,” she said. “It’s been great. I think Berlin is growing in leaps and bounds. Even when it’s cloudy people show up.”
Bill Outten, who runs the Town Center Antiques stores on Main Street and Pitts Street and owns Uptown Antiques on Main Street, said his sales have been stronger – although some consumers may be holding back.
“I’d say we’re up there,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s 30 percent, but we definitely see a great influx. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s hitting the pocketbook though. The price point per sales are a little bit lower, meaning they’re buying smaller items. Last year I think our price point was around $70-$100 per customer. This year I would say it’s $50 or less.
“The real estate market was looking better last year, and more people were thinking of fixing or upgrading or buying a house,” Outten continued. “This year I don’t think the real estate market did as good, even though I think it’s still moving forward. I’m thinking this fall we’ll start seeing more furniture, which will make the price tag per guest check a little higher.”
Outten believes the increased traffic in Berlin will continue.
“I don’t know if it will be as sustainable as the numbers are this year, but I do think it will continue to be well,” he said. “It’s a nice getaway. We have a lot of nice restaurants and they’re doing well. And we’re cool. We have events every month – and we have antique stores.”
Dee Gilbert, owner of Nest on 11 South Main Street, said her sales increase has been close to the 30 percent uptick seen in Lititz.
“People are coming who have never been here before, and once they get here they realized how much Berlin has to offer,” she said. “I hear from people all the time, ‘I drove past Berlin for 40 years on my way to Ocean City and I had no idea what a gem Berlin was.’ There’s so much here – there are so many restaurants; there are so many shops and diversity. We were an unknown and now everybody knows about us.”
For Heather Layton, owner of Bungalow Love on 12 Williams Street, the most surprising development has been the number of Lititz natives who have traveled to Berlin.
“I’m shocked at how many people from Lititz have actually come down to check us out,” she said. “It’s at least a few people on a daily basis, and it’s fun talking to them and to see what their town experienced – and what they’re still experiencing. They said they’re still getting publicity from it.”
Will Berlin’s growth endure like other cool small towns?
“I certainly hope so,” Layton said. “It’s been a strong summer and it has not slowed down yet.”
Lititz, Pa., last year’s “coolest” town, saw a 30 percent uptick in sales. Berlin shopkeepers say the same thing is happening here in 2014.
“It’s been a very busy summer,” said Terri Sexton, owner of Treasure Chest on 20 North Main Street. “What I have found is that a lot of people that come over that are tourists don’t necessarily know about the designation until they get here, but I’m seeing a lot of people that live within a day trip or a two-hour drive coming to town because they haven’t been here in so long. They’re discovering what we have here in Berlin and it’s been packed all summer long.
“We’re a destination now,” Sexton continued. “You can come and spend the day and shop and eat, and I think it’s all sustainable because of what we have to offer. We were the coolest small town for 2014, but we will never lose the designation of coolest small town. We will always be the coolest small town.”
Lynn Kelly, an employee at Bruder Hill on 25 Commerce Street, said the shop has seen a “huge increase” in sales since the designation.
“A lot of people from out of town that have seen it said they had to come to Berlin to check it out,” she said. “It’s been great. I think Berlin is growing in leaps and bounds. Even when it’s cloudy people show up.”
Bill Outten, who runs the Town Center Antiques stores on Main Street and Pitts Street and owns Uptown Antiques on Main Street, said his sales have been stronger – although some consumers may be holding back.
“I’d say we’re up there,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s 30 percent, but we definitely see a great influx. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s hitting the pocketbook though. The price point per sales are a little bit lower, meaning they’re buying smaller items. Last year I think our price point was around $70-$100 per customer. This year I would say it’s $50 or less.
“The real estate market was looking better last year, and more people were thinking of fixing or upgrading or buying a house,” Outten continued. “This year I don’t think the real estate market did as good, even though I think it’s still moving forward. I’m thinking this fall we’ll start seeing more furniture, which will make the price tag per guest check a little higher.”
Outten believes the increased traffic in Berlin will continue.
“I don’t know if it will be as sustainable as the numbers are this year, but I do think it will continue to be well,” he said. “It’s a nice getaway. We have a lot of nice restaurants and they’re doing well. And we’re cool. We have events every month – and we have antique stores.”
Dee Gilbert, owner of Nest on 11 South Main Street, said her sales increase has been close to the 30 percent uptick seen in Lititz.
“People are coming who have never been here before, and once they get here they realized how much Berlin has to offer,” she said. “I hear from people all the time, ‘I drove past Berlin for 40 years on my way to Ocean City and I had no idea what a gem Berlin was.’ There’s so much here – there are so many restaurants; there are so many shops and diversity. We were an unknown and now everybody knows about us.”
For Heather Layton, owner of Bungalow Love on 12 Williams Street, the most surprising development has been the number of Lititz natives who have traveled to Berlin.
“I’m shocked at how many people from Lititz have actually come down to check us out,” she said. “It’s at least a few people on a daily basis, and it’s fun talking to them and to see what their town experienced – and what they’re still experiencing. They said they’re still getting publicity from it.”
Will Berlin’s growth endure like other cool small towns?
“I certainly hope so,” Layton said. “It’s been a strong summer and it has not slowed down yet.”