Tis the season: Merry and Brite opens doors this weekend with hot chocolate

Depending on whom you ask, the holiday season may begin in mid-December or mid-October.

Those who prefer a prolonged yuletide can find the company, in uptown Upper Sandusky, where Dianntha Lessig, co-owner of the Vyntage Barn at 12487 TH 60, has a new pop-up Christmas shop.
Merry and Brite, 132 S. Sandusky Ave., exclusively sells Christmas items, ranging from handmade candles to art to life-sized nutcrackers.
Lessig admitted she can be a bit of a nut about Christmastime.
“I plan for Christmas in June,” she said. Running two stores in the thick of the holidays, though, will take some extra hands.
Two of Lessig’s daughters, Dyanna Nolen and Delaney Lessig, who also work at the barn, will help their mother get her new store off the ground.
Additionally, Jane Baldwin, a family friend and barn employee, will help, and the staff recently brought Emily Ritzler, another family friend, on board to help with both stores.
Baldwin described herself as “not a Christmas person,” but said she nevertheless was looking forward to being “engrossed” in the Lessigs’ Christmas spirit
“They’re all sweet all the time,” Baldwin said of her co-workers.
“I think Dianntha has a family of birds that help her get dressed in the morning like on Cinderella. She’s a joy.”

Now that she’ll soon be up and running, Dianntha refuses to let a little extra work, uptown construction or anything else put a damper on her spirit as she sets up the only Christmas store in town.
“Honestly, I thought it would be so much fun to be uptown at the holidays,” Lessig said.
“With all of the hubbub, all of the people and we’ll be open six days a week instead of three, I guess I like a challenge.”

The Vyntage Barn, located at 12487 TH 60, will expand its hours from two days a month to every Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the holiday season beginning with its Christmas open house Nov. 3-5.
Merry and Brite officially opens its doors Thursday, though a grand opening celebration with door prizes and a hot chocolate bar will be held Friday and Saturday.
Merry and Brite is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

By AVERY T. JENNINGS