As the Christmas season approaches, Lakewood is more ready than ever. Tucked on the corner of Detroit and Lincoln Avenue, Avenue Home restores the magical sense of Christmas for all customers and Lakewood residents. What begins as an ordinary furniture storefront throughout the year transforms into a cozy holiday haven as the air gets colder.
For the past two decades, the annual Trim-A-Tree shop at Avenue Home has offered a selection of vintage and nostalgic home decor, gifts, treats, and Christmas trees. Shoppers are welcomed into a winter wonderland where they can fall into the festive spirit of the season. The team is there to help all Christmas lovers curate a personalized and memorable holiday.
“So many people buy their holiday products at Walmart, Target, and Home Goods. What we hear from customers all the time—which keeps us doing this—is that ‘I’ve never seen this product anywhere else.’ That goes hand in hand with what we do when we go to Atlanta,” said owner David Stein.
Each year, Stein and his team head to Atlanta to pick out their popular decorations. Surrounded by vendors and new trends, they carefully choose items that feel unique, high-quality, and full of charm—products they know Lakewood shoppers won’t find in big-box stores.
“I feel like the themes allow different vibes to be present in the store that every shopper can feel the Christmas spirit in,” said resident Emma Penney. Now, in its 24th year of business, Stein and his team use their interior design skills each year to create something different but still special. The themes are typically mapped out a year in advance. This way, Stein and his team provide a sense of the holiday that is timeless.
”So we pretty much decide then, coming off the holiday season, ‘What were good sellers, what we needed that we didn’t have, what sat here for a while?’ With that, we look at what the product offering is in Atlanta, and then pretty much decide,” Stein said. With themes ranging from classic Nutcracker motifs to botanical “Garden” concepts, staff members can guide customers through the store’s themed collections for a new look at Christmas.
During the rest of the year, Avenue Home is known for its lovely pieces of furniture and home decor. When the Christmas season arrives, the main goal is to create something that has never been done before. “It’s kind of a nod back to the older department stores that are now long gone in downtown Cleveland. Higbees, in particular, had a Trim-Home shop. That idea kind of stemmed from that,” said manager Scott Hannah.
With the holiday season being a hectic time for all families in Lakewood and across the United States, customers tend to shop at their convenience. In recent years, a debate that has sparked controversy is that Christmas has been widely commercialized in the United States, taking away from the holiday spirit. With this idea ingrained into many Americans’ minds, Christmas has seemingly become more of a price tag than a holiday.
“We try not to fall too much into trends. We’re always going to have more of the classic, traditional items with some fun, whimsical items added in there. So really, a little bit of something for everybody and everything. From candies, candles, pillows, table items—and, of course, a pretty wide assortment of ornaments,” Hannah said.
Supporting local businesses—especially during the busy season—like Avenue Home is crucial. They focus the mission of their store on Lakewood and the people who live here. The vintage and authentic items they sell offer a connection between the store and the community that is hard to find anywhere else.
To avoid mass-produced and trend-driven merchandise, the themes range from a variety of styles. It is ensured that when customers step through the entrance, the Christmas tradition is built on meaning rather than marketing.
For the citizens of Lakewood, the Trim-A-Tree shop is more than a store—it’s a winter wonderland. Every ornament and tree is selected for the price of a holiday memory. The decor allows customers to soak in the festive atmosphere and a true Christmas feeling. The experience blends warmth and nostalgia—fulfilling the true spirit of the holidays.
