Allison and McKenzie Penton, Portland Residents, Found their Christmas Tree Today at 199 West Commercial Street. They Didn’t Have to Leave City Limits – a Plus!
Tegan Curry, a Jewelry Maker and Kirsty Mogensen, Two of the Three Owners of Tree Gulls. “What Could be Better than a Maine Grown Tree?” said Mogensen. Missing from the Photo is the Third Owner, Garrett Fitzgerald.
Alan Chebuske and Melisa Hewey, Looking for an 8 Ft. Tree Today for Their Portland Home.
‘The Little Shop’ is New This Year and Contains Maine Crafts and Ornaments From a Variety of Maine Artists. On Sale is Jewelry Made by Tegan Curry, One of the Three Owners of Tree Gulls. www.tegancurryjewelry.com For More.
“We ordered 650 Christmas trees for this year. That was 100 more than last year,” said Kirsty Mogensen, one of the three owners of Tree Gulls, at 199 West Commercial Street, Portland this afternoon. “Instead we received the same number as last year. Five hundred,” she said. Last year the owners of Tree Gulls sold out of holiday trees before Christmas Eve.
Last year the smaller trees sold quickly. Presumably that happened because there are so many condominium and apartment occupants in the greater Portland area. So this year, the business owners ordered 100 table top trees for customers living in smaller spaces. Trees range in size from 10 foot trees to the table-top size. Prices for the trees have ticked up slightly, but just slighty. About $10. per tree more from last year.
Many Christmas tree farms are not accepting new customers because of a shortage of trees according to the Maine Christmas Tree Association dating back to a small planting in 2008. However, Garrett FitzGerald, one of the three owners, met an owner of MMB, a Tree Farm eight years ago up in Aroostook County on the Canadian border. Garrett, from Prince Edward Island, told him he was interested in selling his holiday trees. So, when FitzGerald approached MMB last year, he got a thumbs up..
In addition to the on site addition of the The Little Shop, the Clam Box, owned by FitzGerald will be open. It will be offering Maine favorites such as oysters and lobster and drinks to accompany them. Bring your appetite with you!
Sales were brisk today. Some were repeat customers from last year and others were first time customers. Whatever the reason, business was already significantly ahead of last year at the same time. Maybe customers heard reports predicting a shortage of holiday trees and wasted no shopping time. Every family needs a fragrant oh so delightly fragrant balsam tree that is part American and part Canadian. Santa Claus expects it!
Tree Gull will be open seven days a week until Christmas Eve or until the trees are sold out. Monday – Wednesday from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. @treegullportland.
Two on site craft shows are planned for December weekends; the first is the weekend of December 3rd and 4th for local artists.
For more background information on Tree Gulls, please visit post herein dated December 12, 2020.