SUNBURY, Pa. — We are less than three weeks from Christmas and businesses in Sunbury hope you shop local for your gifts.
Jesse Whitmer is busy making goodies at his store, Sweet Dreams Cheesecake Emporium, in Sunbury. Whitmer has been in this location on Market Street since September.
"We do many different kinds of slices. We do mini cheesecakes, which are a nice little portion size," Whitmer said.
Whitmer and other business owners are preparing for Sunbury's late-night shoppers' event on Thursday evening. Stores will be open late for people to do their holiday shopping.
"This time of year, I've always been a big Christmas person, and also the small business community," Whitmer said.
Another new business in Sunbury is Undefeated Sports, which specializes in custom sports items. The store opened earlier this year, and owner Jeff Heintzelman is looking forward to showing what it offers.
"Anything a school, a youth program, any business would need, from apparel to equipment to uniforms, we offer it," Heintzelman said.
Sunbury's late-night shoppers' event is not only on Market Street. Both the Albright Center for the Arts and the Degenstein Community Library will host vendors. The event is sponsored by Sunbury Revitalization Inc.
"Sunbury Station has sponsored carriage rides, so people can get free carriage rides. People who shop and make purchases can show their receipt and get a raffle ticket. We have several really nice prizes to give away," said Jody Ocker, executive director of Sunbury Revitalization.
The late-night shoppers' night is Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Sunbury.