There’s a unique gift shop right “Around the Corner” from the NunBetter Chocolate Candy Store at Franciscan Villa, the Liverpool home of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.
“Around the Corner” offers a range of beautiful items, many of them one-of-a-kind and perfect for a range of life events, including weddings, birthdays, and baptisms. There is also a wide variety of religious and non-religious cards for birthdays, Confirmations, and other events. Sisters, volunteers, and others donated many of the items; all proceeds from sales go to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.
The sisters founded the store when they were still at the St. Anthony and Jolenta houses on Court Street. When it first opened, most of the merchandise was items the sisters donated, along with cards and religious items they purchased to sell. Sister Helen Hofmann and her two sisters donated money for the gift shop in their parents’ name.
Peg DiMartino started working in the gift shop in 2007, answering the phone and selling merchandise. When the store moved to its new location at 6900 Buckley Road in 2014, Peg was instrumental in setting up shop. Today, she oversees the day-to-day operations full time. A dozen or more volunteers from different parishes come to work at the store on different days while on Saturdays, sister volunteers handle the store.
The store is open to the public, and the sisters and volunteer shopkeepers would love to have people visit often; the inventory changes frequently. Store hours are 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturdays.
If you have items to donate, please contact Peg DiMartino, manager, at (315) 422-9612 or (315) 427-7862. Donations are accepted 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Thank you for your support of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.
