GREENFIELD — A local business under new management was named the winner of the Greenfield Business Association’s inaugural window display contest, which was held earlier this year in conjunction with the centennial Winter Carnival.
“I was so excited, because I really did view us as the underdog,” said Diana Nunez, manager at Smoke Heaven Food and Tobacco Shop at 239 Main St. “I do believe nobody worked harder than us. … It was constant trying to get people to vote, and at least to come look at the window so they could vote how they wanted.”
About 650 votes were cast online by visitors, residents and shoppers between Feb. 4 and Feb. 12, with Smoke Heaven emerging the winner by only 20 votes, according to a Greenfield Business Association press release.
“We entered the window display contest this year and concentrated on the Winter Carnival’s 100th anniversary,” Nunez said. “We had hearts and Frosty and lots of lights.”
She said the window display was the creation of numerous volunteers. They tried to incorporate winter and Valentine’s Day imagery, as well as draw attention to the 100th anniversary of the Winter Carnival.
Nunez only recently took over management of the shop, she said. That was partly why she wanted to get involved in the contest this year.
“We’ve worked very hard recently to kind of upgrade the shop from just being a smoke shop … and also to participate in what the community is doing,” Nunez said.
Nunez said she wants to continue what she felt the past manager had started.
“She just had a big heart and wanted to help everybody,” she said.
Greenfield Business Association Coordinator Rachel Roberts said that, with the added events on the common and Court Square, it seemed like the optimal year to launch the window display contest.
“The (Recreation Department) has been asking us to have a contest for a few years,” Roberts said in a statement. “This seemed like the perfect year to encourage people to get more involved with the businesses downtown as they enjoyed the carnival’s other activities.”
Seventeen downtown businesses entered the contest and created a variety of window displays featuring winter scenes and exuding love for the community. Other voter favorites included Goose Exquisite Thrift, Garden Cinemas, Franklin County’s YMCA and Greenspace CoWork.
“The participating businesses were so enthusiastic about the contest, and they made some truly lovely displays,” Roberts said. “We’re also thrilled to have had so much voter participation.”
The Greenfield Business Association partnered with local radio stations WHAI, Bear Country, The Outlaw and EZ107.5, which will collectively award a custom airtime package on the stations worth $3,500 to Smoke Heaven.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne