ASHLAND — Hollie Chance has always loved Christmas.
Her birthday is Dec. 22 — just days before the holiday — and she’s always enjoyed celebrating it. For her 40th, Chance and her friends took a party bus through The Flats in Cleveland, visiting several Christmas bars.
Fast forward a few years, and Chance now co-owns a bar in Ashland: Kash Co. Pourhouse. And they’re on a mission to bring a little more Christmas to the city.
The Main Street bar has become Ashland’s very own Christmas bar, decorated to the nines with lights, an archway, candy canes and even a “Snoop on the Stoop” doll.
“I’ve always been the kid with the Christmas t-shirts on and sweatshirts on at school,” Chance said. “I have an entire tote of Christmas clothes that come out … it’s just always been my favorite.
“I love summer, but it’s something about all of the magic, the little kids, keeping the secrets, and having a little fun.”
Chance said she spent the past year collecting Christmas decor at every thrift store and garage sale she’s gone to. Friends and employees also donated to the cause, bringing in more decorations.
Aaron Stitzel, another co-owner, said they bought lights new. Stitzel took the lead on hanging all the Christmas lights throughout the bar. In all, it took three and a half days of work to take the Pourhouse from a bar to a verified winter wonderland.
“It’s for the people, it isn’t really just for us” Stitzel said. “Obviously, (Chance) loves it, and I like it, but it’s for the people to come and enjoy.”
So far, reception has been positive, according to Chance and Stitzel. They said they’ve had visitors come from out of town to visit already. Plus, post-Thanksgiving, the bar plans to put out Christmas specials.
Once word spreads about the Christmas bar, they hope more people will come to see it.
“We just hope everybody can come in and love it as much as we do,” Chance said. “Even if people don’t drink, they can just come in and see it. I mean, you can’t be sad when you’re in here.”
Chance and Stitzel said this year’s display will stay up until the New Year. And, they hope in the future, the decorations will keep getting bigger and better.
