Frank’s Paint & Hardware takes top Holiday Window prize
December 23, 2009
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Main Street can be renamed Santa Claus Lane with all the decorations vying for attention, and a handful of especially holiday-minded merchants recently were judged to have the prettiest windows dressed up for the season.
According to Santa Paula Downtown Merchants Association President Debbie Johnson, Frank’s Paint & Hardware (1026 E. Main St.) was judged the top entry in the annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest, this year themed “Santa Paula: Home for the Holidays.”
There was a three-way tie for 2nd Place: “The judges just couldn’t decide between Heritage Valley ARC, Santa Paula Community Bank and Tisa’s Salon & Spa, so they said all three,” coincidentally all past contest standouts, “should share the prize.”
Frank’s Paint & Hardware received the $200 top prize, while those tying for second place each received $50. Heritage Valley ARC is located at 116 N. 10th St., Santa Paula Community Bank at 948 E. Main St., and Tisa’s Salon & Spa at 947 E. Main St.
Overall, area merchants all “put a lot of time and energy into decorating their windows for the holidays, especially those that joined the competition.” And the result of their efforts, noted Johnson, is best viewed in the evening.
“Go see them at night... they’re really beautiful,” with twinkling lights and custom decorations that make each window distinctively different with only one thing in common: “They’re all,” said Johnson, “just wonderful!”
The contest is also co-sponsored by the City of Santa Paula in the belief that the holiday show of decorations not only reflects the spirit of the holidays, but also provides plenty of eye-candy for passersby. And what catches the eye might just prompt a shopper to step inside to see what other goodies are available at the imaginative merchants’.
“As always, we encourage the Santa Paula community to come and shop in our downtown,” where Johnson said they would find “Santafastic bargains! There are great ideas for gift cards from Santa Paula Coffee Company and Tisa’s, where you can find hair products, flat irons, curling irons, jewelry, all sorts of things. The Santa Paula California Oil Museum has a fabulous gift shop, and Frank’s Paint & Hardware is perfect for that hard to buy for man who loves home projects. The dollar or less stores have wonderful decorating items and stocking stuffers... there really are so, so many places to shop in Santa Paula!”
You can even, noted Johnson, “open up a savings account for your child or grandchild at one of our local banks, a very thoughtful and practical gift.”
Merchants who decorated for the holiday, but didn’t compete, made an outstanding effort to dress their windows and “I do want to thank them for participating by putting up white lights in their windows.... They really do complement the sidewalk tree lights and banners to give the downtown a great, overall Christmas ambiance.”
Johnson said the judging panel was asked to consider the nine entries’ use of theme. The judges remain anonymous, but “They all did a great job and we really appreciate that.”
Other downtown businesses that entered the Holiday Window Decorating Contest included H&R Block, Flaun’s, Santa Paula Family Resource Center, Santa Paula California Oil Museum and Santa Paula Coffee Company. Remember to Shop Santa Paula: What’s spent in Santa Paula stays in Santa Paula, supporting local families, area charities and city services.
