Just blocks away from the Midway Town Hall sits Kringle’s, Jennifer Magnum’s Christmas shop where yuletide joys and products one would typically expect to see in December don’t follow typical time traditions — every day of the year is treated like Christmas.
The shop gives off such strong typical-holiday-movie vibes, that it was actually used in part of the filming of the film “Mistletoe Mixup.”
“Oftentimes, when it’s snowing out, I always tell people, ‘It’s like we live inside a snow globe,'” Magnum said. “It really feels like that.”
With a sleigh out front and regular visits from Santa Claus himself throughout December, along with the Swiss architecture and designs of the buildings around the picturesque shop, Magnum’s store really does seem to qualify her to live a Hallmark sort of life.
Somewhat ironically, she doesn’t consider herself a Christmas fanatic, but she does often find herself helping people prepare for the holiday as a professional interior designer.
The title also helps her to create her desired ambiance in the store, making it feel closer to a home that happens to have purchasable items and a checkout than a bustling Christmas-centered marketplace.
“I like quaint, unique experiences. For me, it’s really about an experience when you go into the store,” she said. “It’s the smells, it’s the sounds. You just feel like you’re having an experience.”
Before stepping into the league of Santa and elves and holiday spirit in Midway, Magnum owned the neighboring Spruce Personalized Decor shop. When the quilt shop housed in the 1800s-built home across the street began struggling during the pandemic, she decided to expand both her and Chris Kringles’ footprints in the area and purchase it. Since then, she said she’s worked hard to maintain a homey atmosphere.
While she also sells nonseasonal gifts, she has found that noel sells throughout the entire year. Asked what products are most popular around the calendar, she didn’t hesitate to say ornaments.
“When people are on vacation or from out of town, we have a lot of out-of-town people, they always want to buy an ornament or two,” she said.
She also sells pieces of Christmas collectable sets such as Department 56, Jim Shore and Old World Christmas.
And — for those who meet Christmas with Humbug across their lips, those with hearts that remain two sizes too small — Magnum said the shop’s Grinch collection is popular.
“I always tease people when they come in and they go, ‘Oh no!’ And they’re usually there with a partner or somebody and the partner’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this!'” Magnum said. “I’m like, ‘It’s okay, we have some Grinch stuff over here for you. You can sit on the front porch and here’s an ice cream. You can go sit up there and eat that.'”