Art displays add appeal to Latrobe's monthly Shop Hop

Inclement weather this week postponed Latrobe’s dedication of its recent downtown improvements, but town merchants pressed on with an event intended to attract patrons and promote local artists.

The combined inaugural Art Walk and monthly Shop Hop allowed visitors to 10 downtown businesses to hunt for bargains while checking out pieces selected from works usually exhibited at the Latrobe Art Center.

Visitors were encouraged to vote for their favorite artwork.

Displaying art could become an ongoing theme for future September Shop Hops, according to Emily Pasqualino, a Latrobe business owner who coordinates the events, now entering their third year.

“The whole purpose is to kind of marry the merchants with the art scene,” she said, noting the works displayed this week were available for later purchase through the art center.

“We’ve already had some people inquiring about purchasing the art,” Pasqualino said as she prepared for the 4 p.m. start of the three-hour event. “If they like these pieces, they may come back into town to make a purchase.”

Some of the art placements were particularly appropriate. “Donut Shop,” a watercolor by Kathy Sobota, greeted visitors to Terri’s Gourmet Sweet Treats. Patrons who stopped at 512 Coffee and Ice Cream were able to view two floral images created with coffee by Eileen Stoner.

Visitors to Rose Style Shoppe saw two works in the display windows — “Cape May Shoppe,” a watercolor by Jan Landini, and “Orange Slice,” an oil painting by Ann M. Cehula.

Third-generation owner Ronda Goetz said the Shop Hop events have been a good fit for the women’s apparel business, which previously featured themed Ladies Night Out promotions.

“I love the idea of the community coming together,” she said of the Shop Hops. “That took the stress off me thinking of all these things to do as just one business.”

Referring to the legacy of Latrobe native and children’s television host Fred Rogers, she added, “Any time we have an opportunity to show how neighborly we are, that’s a win-win. You’re building relationships.”

Latrobe’s Shop Hops usually are held on the first Wednesday of each month, with participating businesses staying open into the evening and taking part in a themed activity.

Some dates may change because of competing events on the calendar. The merchants skip Shop Hops in January, July and December.

This month’s event was moved back a week to avoid the storms associated with Hurricane Ida, though the event still did not escape getting rained upon.

Pumpkins and scarecrows will be the popular repeat theme for October’s Shop Hop, where participating merchants will display either a decorated pumpkin or a scarecrow, vying for visitors’ votes as their favorite autumn display.

Pasqualino often receives inquiries in advance about what’s planned for the next event.

“People in town know about it, but we’d like to get more people from out of town to visit,” she said.