Do You Judge a Store by Its Window?

As children, we're told not to judge books by their covers. But as adults how many of us are guilty of judging stores by their window displays?

Walk by between now and Halloween, and you'll see a creepy scene—a mummy wedding in which the bride and groom are about to feast on a marinating brain. There's even a small, mummified dog in the corner of the display looking as if it too wants to get a morsel of the soaking cerebellum. 

"I most definitely think the seasonal display windows help attract attention and bring in customers," said Sunnyside owner Susan (Willo) Willoughby. "We all sit down and brainstorm together. The changing display is our trademark."

Willoughby credits employee Sophia Skolnick with bringing the team's visions to life. "The scene is dusty and dark, but because we use all nice objects, it looks more professional—less commercial," Skolnick explained. She highlighted the authentic Tuscan wine bottles used throughout the display.

And what customers don't know is that the mummies are last year's skeletons, repurposed. "It took two entire afternoons to wrap the skeletons in muslin," Skolnick said.

In a tough economy, Willoughby believes small businesses need to get creative to draw in customers—and of course offer quality merchandice to keep them coming back.

"One year the window had an Irish pub scene for St. Patrick's Day that was so authentic a man came in asking for drink," Willoughby said. "Another time, there was a market scene with apples that made a woman stop in looking for fruit."

Have you seen any particularly engaging Halloween windows in the Rivertowns? Please post photos in the gallery section of this article.