Dan Kramer
d COMMUNITY
Getting to Know …
Dan Kramer
Downtown Cartersville shop owner
BY JILL BECKER
On historic Main Street in downtown Cartersville , there ’ s a place where it ’ s Christmas all year long , complete with Santa , trees , presents , and all the holiday trimmings . That place is ’ Tis the Season , a charming little Christmas shop co-owned by Dan Kramer and Robert Adams . Kramer refers to it as his happy place . “ I can blast Christmas music all year and never think twice ,” he says .
The shop carries everything from stockings and Christmas china to collectible Santas and snow globes . The fun , trendy items expected to fly off the shelves this year include packets of instant snow , holiday infinity lights , and anything Grinch , says Kramer . When asked if he ever gets sick of Christmas , Kramer insists he has a huge love for the holiday . “ Christmas to me is a feeling , and some people need that feeling in times other than December ,” he says . “ All year long people enter and bask in the magical world of Christmas . It only takes a few minutes before you just smile and feel better .”
Kramer also co-owns a store right next door called It ’ s About Time , whose 5,000 square feet is packed with gifts for every occasion , including housewares , candles , pottery , gourmet foods , baby goods , jewelry , and more than 800 watches . “ I grew up with a father in the jewelry business ,” says Kramer . “ After college , I knew I wanted to open a business reminiscent of the old jewelry stores from yesteryear , a one-stop shop full of quality gifts for any and every occasion . We tried to create a store that eliminated the need to drive to Atlanta or Buckhead for fine gifts and quality brands .”
Kramer says the local support his businesses have received has been unparalleled . “ We are blessed to be located in downtown Cartersville ,” he says . “ The downtown business district is thriving , and each year we welcome more people who discover what a gem our downtown area has become . Hardly a day goes by that a customer doesn ’ t comment about how impressed they are with our town .”
Besides Adams , Kramer works with a couple of other friendly faces . His brother is their official watch expert and technician , his mother serves as Mrs . Claus , and his six-year-old basset hound mix is the official greeter . “ Miss
14 | NW GEORGIA LIVING NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024
“ I can blast Christmas music all year and never think twice .”
Pepper is the real boss of the store ,” says Kramer . “ She comes every day and is a local celebrity . Due to her short legs , she has her own chair at the store that she jumps on to properly greet customers .” Kramer describes Miss Pepper as having the eyes of an angel and the lifestyle of a princess . There ’ s even a portrait of her on the wall that was painted by a British artist named Hannah Dale .
Here ’ s more from Cartersville ’ s hometown shop owner . My favorite place or activity in Northwest Georgia is … downtown Cartersville ’ s Holiday Open House . The best present I ’ ve ever gotten is … Prince the pony , for my eighth birthday . The best present I ’ ve ever given is … a commissioned portrait of Pinto Bean , Miss Pepper ’ s predecessor . If I couldn ’ t do what I ’ m doing now , my ideal job would be … a judge . Not the legal kind , but rather the talent or beauty pageant variety . My favorite song or album is … “ Your Song ,” by Elton John . My pet peeve is … people cracking their knuckles . My secret weapon is … my humor . If I went to trivia night at the local pub , the category I would kill at is … anything horse or Harry Potter related . Before I fall asleep , I always … put in earbuds and listen to a book . My favorite Christmas memory is … snow . We don ’ t get a lot here , but I grew up in upstate New York , where it was abundant .