Leisurely day of shopping in Culpeper

While holiday shoppers filled area retail stores early Friday morning enduring cold temperatures to be one of the first in line to catch heavily advertised reduced prices, David and Stacey March slept.

When the Culpeper couple, joined by an out-of-town relative, finally ventured out Black Friday - the start of the holiday shopping season - they avoided long lines and crowded stores by shopping in downtown Culpeper.

Once inside Pepperberries, David and Stacy looked at baby items, handbags, jewelry and clothing before trekking to other area stores.

"We wanted to show off the downtown area," said David, as he maneuvered a stroller around the store's courtyard area.
Pepperberries owner Susan Clark encourages other residents to do the same and shop locally.

"It keeps the tax revenue here in town," she said. "Plus it keeps us thriving."

For Stacey, shopping downtown allows her to find unique gifts for family and friends.

"They have very pretty stuff, too," she said about the downtown boutique.

Down the street and inside the Frenchman's Corner, owner Marc Ast greeted his customers with a cheerful "Hello, how are you doing today," as they entered his downtown shop.

And he wasn't surprised to see just a handful of shoppers walking around his store shortly after 10:30 a.m.

"Most of the people go to the big malls to catch the sales and when they finish there they will come downtown," he said. "We have good foot traffic so far."

Ast said the Home Garden herb kit and the bamboo-fiber towels are two hot items this year.

"Once you wash it the first time, the fiber tightens," he said. "It's a nice bath towel. I use it myself."

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .