By all accounts from local retailers, lots of shoppers came to Larchmont for Saturday’s Annual Holiday Open House. The annual shopping kick-off featured musicians on the street and a “trolley” connecting Larchmont Village to north Larchmont Blvd where Santa Claus made a visit to the Wilshire Rotary’s Christmas tree lot. Among the festivities, there was snow at TailWaggers pet shop for dogs and their humans to enjoy and pose for photos with Santa Paws and Mrs. Claws. On North Larchmont Blvd, realty John Duerler of Hancock Homes served his Texas Chili to anyone who wanted to pose for a pet/family photo as well.
Several shopkeepers told the Buzz that Saturday was their best sales day of the year. That sentiment was music to the ears of David Rhodes, founder of the Rhodes School of Music and board member of the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA), who organized the day’s events.
“It was nice to see the street thriving like it was before the pandemic,” Rhodes told the Buzz. “It feels like Larchmont is back!”
“We were so busy,” staff at Chevalier’s Books told us. “Everyone enjoyed coming in to meet our authors who helped shoppers select books for holiday gifts.”
“We had our best day of the year,” said Todd Warner, owner of Tailwaggers and LBA board member whose annual Santa Paws and Mrs. Claws event drew lots dogs and their humans to play in the snow and pose for a family photo.
The same thing was true at the Christmas tree lot. Wilshire Rotary volunteers told the Buzz, it was the busiest day at the tree lot since they opened. We spotted several cars with trees tied to the roof traveling down Larchmont.
Paul Witt, owner of Wittmore, a relatively new shop on the boulevard, told the Buzz he was really pleased so many people stopped in to check out the store. Staff at Midland, one of the newest shops on the street to open, told the Buzz they were really glad they pushed to open the store in time for the holidays.
As the sun set, community leaders gathered for a photo under the bistro lights that now illuminate the street.
“This has been a wonderful community-building moment with stakeholders coming together in such an impactful way,” Larchmont Village BID Executive Director Heather Duffy Boylston told the Buzz. Funding for the lights came from the property owners and the businesses on Larchmont, CD13 City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, the Windsor Square Association, Hancock Park Homeowners Association, the Wilshire Rotary, Muto-Little Costume and this publication, the Larchmont Buzz.
If you missed any of the festivities, check out this Instagram reel made by Jade at @Larchmontneighbors. There’s still plenty of shopping days left before Christmas to shop locally and support the Larchmont business community.
