Big changes are coming to Philadelphia's Christmas Village this year
As the city begins to prepare for the holiday season, changes have been proposed for the Christmas Village and Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market at LOVE Park and City Hall.
Action News obtained a letter sent by German American Marketing, Inc., the company that runs the village, to its vendors in Philadelphia. It detailed accessibility changes that are in store for vendor booths this upcoming season.
In the letter, the company said it had worked last season to ensure the village was in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. But it said the changes that were made were not suitable for everyone.
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Changes are coming to a popular holiday tradition in Center City.
But vendors are voicing their concerns, saying it will bring more coal than cheer this shopping season.
Action News reporter Caroline Goggin, live from the Parkway, with more on why the Christmas Village will look different this year.
Caroline.
Well, Rick, it's only September, but we are already talking about Christmas.
It is important to note that this change will not impact all vendors at the Christmas Village and the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market at Dilworth Park.
But those that it is going to impact are really reconsidering their options to take part in this beloved tradition.
The Christmas Village and the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market have become staples of the holiday season.
I've probably been coming here since I was 18.
Now the creator of her own children's line, So Much Cooler,
Lindsey Gradle, set up shop at the Christmas Village a couple years ago.
Yesterday she was notified changes are in store for vendors.
There's a step when you come into the booth. It's not ADA compliant.
German American Marketing, which runs the Village, has been trying to change that.
In a letter sent to vendors yesterday, they said after endless calls with attorneys, the city, and disability rights advocates,
permanent ramps have been proposed for this year.
The company says because there isn't enough space for those ramps, the booths will be changing to this.
No one can walk inside. An entrance barrier will be at the front where vendors will show their items to customers.
We don't know how our sales are going to be without people walking in to smell our candles, to try on our jewelry, to try on a sweatshirt.
In its letter, German American Marketing said it understands this will cause issues, saying,
This is the solution the city feels comfortable with from a legal perspective.
We are not overly excited, but decided to offer an experience that is in 100% compliance without having to find out through litigation.
After I read it yesterday, I knew it wasn't going to work.
Just the way that we organically interact with the customers, the way the customers find things.
So Drew Fisher isn't bringing his Bath & Body products back to the Philadelphia market.
There's other shows that we could have done, and if we found out earlier, we could have applied to them.
Now, German American Marketing said in that letter there will be select locations where they will be putting up those permanent ramps.
I did reach out to the company and I did reach out to the city of Philadelphia for comment on this situation.
I am still waiting to hear back.
We are live tonight in Center City. I'm Caroline Goggin, Channel 6 Action News. Rick?
All right, Caroline, thank you for that report.