To stop developers from tearing down a piece of local history, one Pennsylvania native is turning to crowdfunding to revive the shuttered year-round shop
NEED TO KNOW
- Dana Alyss is raising funds to revive a historic year-round Christmas store in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- The Christmas Barn, a beloved local landmark, closed in 2007 and is now listed for sale for $1.9 million
- Alyss has raised nearly $50,000 through GoFundMe to preserve the barn’s charm and add a modern café to draw new visitors
What sounds like the plot of a holiday rom-com is the real-life fight of one woman hoping to keep the Christmas spirit alive in Bethlehem, Pa.
Dana Alyss grew up in the Lehigh Valley of Eastern Pennsylvania. The region houses both Bethlehem and Bethlehem Township, which have collectively become known as Christmas City, U.S.A. Growing up, the 38-year-old content creator remembers an immense amount of pride the towns took in their connection to the holidays — including many local businesses catering to the season.
One of those businesses was a year-round Christmas store, known among locals as the “Christmas Barn.” Each year, Alyss’ family would visit the store to pick from their “very unique” selection of ornaments.
“Everything in the store, every inch of the store was Christmas,” Alyss tells PEOPLE. “It had just so many carefully crafted things that you don’t really see anymore. It was a really unique experience. I know a lot of people just went in to look around, just to feel the joy of Christmas all year round.”…