Kenn Brodmerkel and Nancy Gillmeier have been neighbors for a long time. They each own a business in Cornwall Plaza.
Mr. Brodmerkel, of Cornwall Wine and Spirits, will visit Ms. Gillmeier, of World Wide Travel, if he wants to plan a vacation. Even if he’s not traveling, the two confer daily.
But there was something they didn’t know about each other until this year’s Fall Festival. And they wouldn’t have discovered it without the help of Joe Dvash.
Mr. Dvash, the president of the Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, visited almost every vendor at the festival. When he asked Ms. Gillmeier what’s new, she mentioned a 30th anniversary. Mr. Dvash’s face lit up (as it often does). He told her that her neighbor would also be celebrating 30 years.
So the two proprietors decided on a joint celebration. They will have a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. And that will be followed by an afternoon of bargains and festivities.
The liquor store will serve finger foods as vendors are pouring samples of Burgundy, Irish whiskey, tequila and California wines. The travel agency will offer appetizers and sweets. Both businesses will greet visitors with gifts and bargains.
Mr. Brodmerkel mentioned totes, cups, shirts and caps. Ms. Gillmeier referred to specials for people who book trips before the end of January. At either location, there will be drawings for prizes.
At the liquor store, someone will win a “Year of Cheer,” which is a different bottle of wine each month. And at the travel agency, the grand prize is three days in Belize.
The two owners have enjoyed planning the celebration, which will last until 6 p.m. Both of them spent 10 years on Main Street before moving to Cornwall Plaza.
Mr. Brodmerkel bought his business from Alan Seidman after working for office equipment firms. Ms. Gillmeier and her mother, Lucy, started World Wide Travel after the two of them had worked together at someone else’s travel agency.
Speaking of next week’s celebration, Ms. Gillmeier said, “We hope people will stop by to say hello, It’s our way of saying ‘thank you.’ With all the changes in the travel industry, we’re still here because of your support.”
