Photo Caption: Joanne Smida (left) and Joanne Walters Celebrate 40 years of small business at a recent chamber event.
Forty Years on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street
Hand Cut Crystal/Bethlehem Christmas Shop Celebrates Four Decades of Business in Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, PA — Hand Cut Crystal and Bethlehem Christmas Shoppe, a beloved fixture on Bethlehem’s Historic Main Street, is celebrating its 40th anniversary at 452 Main Street. The business was founded in 1986.
Joanne Smida has guided Hand Cut Crystal for the past 20 years. She purchased the retail shop in 2006 from her mother and stepfather, Joanne and Paul Walters. In 2019, under her leadership, she created a Christmas shop within the store, which grew into Bethlehem Christmas Shoppe, LLC.
An anniversary celebration kicks off on Sunday, July 12, 2026, during Bethlehem’s 2026 Block Party. The sale will continue through Saturday, July 25.
“Forty years is a remarkable milestone for any small business,” said Smida. “We are grateful to generations of customers, local artisans, visitors, and community members who have supported us through the years. It has been a privilege to share beautiful handcrafted work and to be part of Bethlehem’s vibrant downtown business community and, now, a World Heritage destination.”
To show appreciation for that support, the store will offer refreshments and an Anniversary Sale featuring 20% and 40% discounts on select merchandise, along with surprise offers throughout the July 12th celebration, in addition to other fun festivities through Christmas in July and the year.
The store remains a destination for collectors, holiday enthusiasts, and visitors seeking to experience the charm and Moravian traditions that have helped make Bethlehem known as Christmas City USA and, more recently, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The retailer features handcrafted gifts, jewelry, crystal, artisan products, ornaments, and holiday treasures imported from more than 30 countries. American-made products are also prominently featured, along with locally crafted items that celebrate the traditions and heritage of Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley.
Hand Cut Crystal and Bethlehem Christmas Shoppe are located at 452 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For more information, call 610-868-2427. The retailer also offers shipping services and online shopping at bethlehemchristmasshoppe.com.
Information provided to TVL by:
Tina Bradford
