Heights Village merchants to hold open house

In replacement of the Cahaba Crawl shopping event, the Heights Village will be hosting a holiday open house on Nov. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Compared to the Cahaba Crawl, which featured participating businesses throughout Cahaba Heights, this year’s event will only include merchants located in the Heights Village. 

Participating stores include Serendipity Boutique, Manhattan South, The Swanky Stork, A Little Something Gift Boutique, Birmingham Bake and Cook Company, the Lili Pad and Fleet Feet Sports.

Raymond Gotlieb, president of Metropolitan Properties, Inc., the company that owns the Heights Village, said the event has a two-fold purpose. 

“It’s to get people here, and it’s also to be hospitable and show our appreciation for the customer base that shops at the Heights Village,” he said. 

The event will give customers the chance to preview each store’s holiday inventory while enjoying special promotions, although each store’s participation will vary. 

Carole Cain, owner of A Little Something Gift Boutique, said her store will be having a drawing for a $100 gift certificate, door prizes, appetizers and drinks. Customers will also have the opportunity to receive between 10 and 40 percent off their purchase via a drawing at checkout. 

“I do think this event is a good way to bring new people in to acquaint them with the shop and with the merchandise that we carry, but also it’s great to get our loyal customers in,” Cain said. 

As in the Cahaba Crawl’s previous two years, Gotlieb said he expects another popular turnout. 

“We have had very good success in the past, and we are looking forward to having a successful evening,” he said.