Merry-Go-Round celebrates anniversary

HAMBURG — Classical, peaceful guitar music greets customers in the gorgeous green shuttered red Victorian home of the “Merry Go Round” business, on Rte. 23.
Beginning Saturday, Oct. 22 through Friday Oct. 28, the business will celebrate its 31st anniversary with 31 percent-off regular priced items. Some items will even be marked down to 80 percent off.
Owner Leslie Lutz encourages all to stop by, browse, shop, enjoy warm cider and cookies, share memories, sign the guest book – and enjoy a special thank you for making the “Merry Go Round” possible.
Lutz said what started out as a two-room hobby store, quickly took over both floors of the elegantly decorated, 14-room, Victorian home, which she and her husband, Henry, completely restored to “start its new adventure.”
She added, their “country store” has been one-stop shopping for the tri-state area, where people “can find just about any and everything.”
“There is always a happy surprise around the next corner — from crafts to custom furniture,” including kitchens, wall units, and furniture can be ordered and custom made, Lutz said.
Within “Merry Go Round,” bay windows glisten, lace, crystal and china beckon, and attractively arranged displays bring smiles.
Sunshine floats through cream colored curtained windows, on flower bouquets in the Victorian dining rooms of the “Calico Rose Café and Tearoom.” Kelly Ward finished dessert with her children last Wednesday, where Lutz said everything is made from scratch.
“Calico Rose” offers homemade: chicken pot pies, quiches — Lutz made twelve quiches last week — broth and creamy soups every day, salads, specialty sandwiches, calico chicken salad, the very popular tuna salad, and their very own: cobblers, cakes, and pies.
After Ward's lunch, the vibrant 75-year-young Lutz bustled around, clearing tables, saying, “I love what I'm doing, so it works!” She added, “It is like Christmas every day.”
More recently in 2012, Lutz also opened two floors in the purple “Carriage House Consignments” behind the main building. One finds gently used household items and furniture. Lutz said, there is always something new arriving or leaving, “a treasure trove of things to be explored.”
As she added, “Recycling and reusing has become a way of life for all of us.”
Consignment sellers receive 40 percent monthly, after items are sold.
Lutz said, they are looking forward to another year and whatever adventure lies ahead.
Lutz also emails her own articles to 1,000 people, including: kitchen and household hints every Monday and Friday, a recipe every Wednesday, once a month 25 percent off coupon, and $5 birthday month gift certificate.
In November, she hopes to plan a birthday party for Miss Pittypat, the business' 22 year-old-mascot cat, who even has her own following.