For many businesses, the holidays have a decided effect on the bottom line. For some, holiday décor is the element that sets them apart. However, business establishments are conscious of the fact that they must walk a fine line between celebrating the season and not offending those who do not observe Christmas. Gene Marks, who is Jewish and wrote on the subject for Inc. magazine, offers a perspective that might explain why the month of December may be the most wonderful time of the year for people of all beliefs: The season “spreads joy.”

If you grew up in Lancaster, the holidays usually entailed a trip downtown to view Watt & Shand’s windows. The huge window on the corner was always magical. I remember how it shimmered and glowed. And, it was always filled with an amazing assortment of toys and larger-than-life stuffed animals in the weeks following Thanksgiving. With the approach of Christmas Eve, the window would become majestic, as it paid homage to the night on which Christ was born. The window was always a perfect balance of dreams and wonder.

Studies have shown that businesses that decorate for the holidays reap benefits that extend beyond the bottom line. Holiday décor creates a warm and inviting environment. It puts customers and employees in good moods. And, holiday décor in a commercial setting is an attention-getter that creates the kind of buzz that is priceless. People remember it long after it disappears — Watt & Shand’s windows, for example — and make a point to return to see what the next year brings.

We asked two business owners – Bob Fenninger, who owns the restaurant FENZ, and Cle Berntheizel, who owns the multi-faceted venue Garth — for their perspectives on decorating for the holidays.

FENZ … Achieving the Right Balance

Bob Fenninger isn’t sure when decorating restaurants for the holidays became a phenomenon, but his guiding light has always been Gramercy Tavern in New York, where the restaurant’s staff – led by an in-house decorator and a floral designer – swing into action right after midnight on Black Friday and complete the transformation by lunch time. “It’s always stunning,” he reports.

While Bob doesn’t have an in-house decorator or a floral designer on staff, he does have Skip Bickert, who helps to manage the restaurant when he isn’t making decorating plans for the holidays. Skip is a local legend – the farmhouse he once lived in at the intersection of Fruitville Pike and Petersburg Road was always a must-see at holiday time. “People still remember the blue lights I used,” he says. Now, his home in the city attracts a steady stream of passersby over the holidays.

Bob appreciates Skip’s non-traditional approach to holiday decorating. “Everyone likes sparkle and lights,” Bob theorizes. “And, that’s Skip’s forte – the look isn’t about a specific holiday, rather it’s about providing a festive backdrop for celebrating a family get-together, a job well done, office camaraderie, life-long friendships or even a life-changing event.” FENZ is celebrating a milestone of its own this year – its 10th anniversary.

Skip begins to contemplate next season’s look as he removes the current year’s holiday decorations. He shops year-round but gets serious after Labor Day, when his main mission is to find the perfect ribbon.

The world is his oyster as far as ornaments are concerned. He shops big-box stores, specialty shops, garden centers and catalogues to find what he needs. Look closely and you’ll discover a lot of the ornaments are made of plastic; diamond dust, glitter and faux jewels transform them into objects of beauty. “There’s a lot of wear and tear, plus breakage,” he explains of the economics that are involved. Recycling also figures into the game plan. “We change things up, move them around, and it all looks brand new,” he says.

Skip also uses the tried-and-true white twinkle lights. “I’m not a fan of LEDs for interior spaces,” he says, noting he buys two or three cases of lights each year. As much as Bob and Skip would like to use natural trees and greens, longevity doesn’t allow it. “You almost have to work with faux,” Bob notes.

Last year’s décor played off the sienna and acid-green color scheme that defines the restaurant. Silver ornaments added the sparkle element. “The colors need to be tight,” Bob points out.

Skip works on the display over Thanksgiving weekend. “I’m always amazed by the number of people who follow it and ask when it will be done,” Bob comments. The effort goes into full gear on Sunday, when the restaurant is closed. Staff members, family and friends join Skip and Bob in transforming FENZ. “It’s become kind of a party,” Bob reports. “People just like to help.” By Sunday night, the “restaurant is glowing,” he notes. Then, it’s all hands on deck, as December equates to a full house. “Between parties and dinner reservations, we’re on track to have a busy holiday season,” says Bob.

FENZ: 398 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster. Open Sundays in December. Fenzrestaurant.com or 717-735-6999.

Garth – The “Art” of Decorating

“It took me a while to notice that the word ‘art’ was in my name,” says Cle Berntheizel of his middle name, Garth. You might call the discovery serendipitous. Today, Garth entails an array of artful enterprises under one roof: gallery, framing, event venue and a cafe.

Cle originally operated his frame shop out of the basement of his home on Chestnut Street in Columbia. Tiring of his solitary existence, the outgoing Cle looked to relocate his shop to the downtown area. In 2009, he found the perfect location on South Second Street and set up a frame shop and gallery on the first floor.

Incredibly, the building provided Cle with a sense of “home.” Built in 1870, it was originally the site of the Boston Five & Dime store. From 1920 to 1933, its second floor served as the headquarters of Columbia’s first American Legion post, which was co-founded by Cle’s great-grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Cleon N. Berntheizel, and General Edward Shannon, both of whom had served in France and played roles in founding the national organization. “To think that my great–grandfather attended meetings and socialized in this building is kind of amazing,” Cle says.

When the second floor became available, Cle took it over. He expanded the gallery and opened a café. Then, it evolved into an events venue, hosting everything from birthday and anniversary parties to showers and weddings. In July of this year, Cle purchased the building; he is making plans for further expansion into the outdoors and basement. “The ideas never shut off,” he laughs.

Cle loves the holiday season, and Garth fully reflects that fact. “I’ll admit, I like to take it a little over the top,” Cle confesses. The building, he notes, provides the perfect backdrop for holiday decor. “The windows and the floors reflect the lights,” he points out. “It’s kind of magical.”

Cle explains that the décor serves as a backdrop for clients’ holiday parties and as a  thank-you of sorts – each December he hosts a holiday party for clients, friends and family. “I want it to be really special,” he says of the evening’s festivities that feature food, beverages, live music and most of all, friendship. “I really wish my parents were here to see what Garth has become,” he says, noting that Garth the Frame Shop is currently working on its largest art installation to date — the new wing of Donegal Mutual Insurance Company. “It’s huge for us,” he says.

Themes for the venue’s holiday decor are formulated a year or more in advance. Fortunately, he has a very creative partner in Kerry Kegerise, who is a floral designer and owns the event venue Bear Mill Estate in Denver, as well as a creative friend, Dawn Fisher, who has designed displays for the National Christmas Center. He bounces ideas around with Kerry and Dawn and they help him with the decorating.

Last year’s theme  was White Christmas, while this year’s will be retro, as the decor will celebrate the 50s and 60s. Knowing that retro would be 2017’s theme, Cle spent a good portion of 2016 looking for ornaments and other decorative items. “We’ll work on it Thanksgiving weekend and have it ready for the December 1 exhibit opening,” Cle promises.

Garth: 22 S. Second St., Columbia. A  Miniature Holiday Exhibit will open Friiday, December 1, 6-9 p.m. Garthart.co or 717-847-1718.

You name the holiday, and Nathan Mountain and Glenn Taylor decorate their home for it. The décor for Christmas involves at least a dozen trees, floral accents, vintage items, a collection of nutcrackers, homemade stockings, a beloved nativity and a gazillion lights. And, the calendar is filled with non-stop dinner parties!

In the late 80s, Nathan became intrigued by a farm in West Hempfield Township. The 2-1/2-acre property held two barns (one of which was falling down), a corn crib, a milk house and what Nathan calls a turn-of-the-century, 4-over-4 Pennsylvania Dutch-modern farmhouse. The acreage was part of what had once been a large tobacco farm. The most recent owner was also into farming, but unfortunately for him, his crops landed him on the wrong side of the law.

Nathan remembers that the property, which was surrounded by a high stockade fence, “was a mess. It was overgrown, the house was trashed and there was no running water.” Despite its appearance, Nathan stuck to his mantra that “everything has potential.”

The farmette had been acquired by a bank. Nathan and his real estate agent, Rina Aliotta, successfully negotiated the sale via phone calls made between Lancaster (Rina and the bank) and New York (Nathan). Finally, Rina called Nathan to tell him he was now the owner of a farmette that needed a lot of TLC.

Over the course of the next year, Nathan “gutted everything” in the house. After that was accomplished, he built a large addition that holds the kitchen and living room on the first floor and a master suite on the second. “People would drive by, stop, and thank me for saving the property,” he says.

If Nathan’s name rings a bell, you’ve probably seen it on For Sale signs around the county. Originally from Indiana, Pennsylvania, he moved to Lancaster as part of the management team for the restaurant chain, Mr. Steak. An interest in collectibles, cooking and gardening led him to open a specialty shop in East Petersburg that he named The Discovery Bin. “It was a floral shop, bakery and collectibles shop rolled into one,” he explains. Realtors were among his biggest customers. “Marilyn Berger was one of my best customers,” he continues. “She kept telling me I should go into real estate.”

That opportunity presented itself when, out of the blue, someone offered to buy the shop. Nathan followed Marilyn’s advice and became an agent in 2001. His timing wasn’t the greatest, as the market went through a downturn in the aftermath of 9/11. He went on to become associated with Castellum Realty and weathered the bottom dropping out of the market during the Great Recession.

Five years ago, he struck out on his own and founded Mountain Realty. The multi-faceted company serves all of Lancaster County and specializes in assisting everyone from first-time buyers to corporate relocations and downsizers. There are 15 agents on staff, some of whom are bilingual. Glenn, who is originally from Blue Bell in Montgomery County, is employed by the company.

Nathan and Glenn began remodeling the house — for a second time — four years ago. This time around, the projects included a new kitchen, new flooring and refacing the fireplace. Nathan, who inherited woodworking talents from his father, installed the floors himself, using new pine lumber that he distressed. And, they’re still at it, as a new addition will hold a large dining room. They hoped to have it finished in time for Thanksgiving dinner and, following that, Christmas entertaining. They plan to convert the current dining room into a game room or sitting area. What began as a 2,000 square-foot house has grown to include more than 5,000 square feet.

Decorating the house is a year-round endeavor. “Both of us are into holiday decorating and by ‘holiday,’ I mean all of them,” says Nathan, who appropriately enough was born on Christmas Eve. “We love to change the look.” Glenn adds, “We feed off each other.”

For them, the holiday season begins on Black Friday, when they travel to Indiana and visit a tree farm near Nathan’s parents’ home. Wreaths are made, lights are strung, paper whites and amaryllis are grown and Glenn’s collection of nutcrackers take center stage in a cabinet that Nathan’s father made from barn wood.

This year, the tree count will climb to an even dozen, as Nathan and Glenn’s bulldogs will have a dog-themed tree in their honor. Nathan’s mother, who is an accomplished seamstress (she made all the stockings) and quilter, will be making a special skirt for the tree. December will also mark the pups’ first birthday, so a festive birthday party is planned.

Once the holidays are over, the decorating theme morphs into winter, followed by Valentine’s and then Easter. For summer, the focus is on the outdoor areas, and as fall approaches, Halloween and the harvest take over.

Nathan and Glenn love to share their home with friends and family. “We love to entertain,” Nathan remarks. “It’s nice to have people in to enjoy the trees and decorations.” Nathan, who inherited the “cooking gene” from his parents, prepared all the food for the 20 dinner parties he and Glenn hosted last holiday season. “I love to cook and bake,” he says. Glenn takes charge of creating the unique party favors that wow their guests.

If you think cooking all those meals is a feat, Nathan had to take responsibility for all aspects of entertaining for a time last year, as Glenn was under the weather — he had to undergo an emergency appendectomy the week before Christmas!