If you've lived around the Broad Ripple/Glendale area for awhile, then you're likely familiar with the Gore's Christmas Tree lot that opens up every year right after the Thanksgiving weekend. In my recent memory, the lot has been located at 2815 East 62nd Street on the Northeast Corner of Glendale Town Center and right on the lot of what is now Soma Church.
Now then, if you know Jehovah's Witnesses then you also know I'm a late comer to the whole Christmas thing having been raised a JW and having never really gotten into the whole holiday season until later in life. In fact, it was only a couple years ago, and I'm in my 40's, that I had my first "real" tree, a 4' adorable little thing that was easy for me to manage with my wheelchair. This year, likely the result of a couple serious losses this year, I REALLY wanted a real tree. I was all prepared to return to my previous lot when I received a call from Jimmy Gore himself stating that a tree had been donated in my honor due to some recent charity work I had done - They wanted me to come out and pick out the tree, then they would deliver it, set it up, then pick it up for disposal once the Christmas season was over.
I'll admit it. I was excited. They weren't due to be actually open for a few more days, so we agreed that I would likely stop in Thanksgiving weekend and pick out the tree. I called Jimmy when I was in the area and stopped in. Now then, I must admit that it was quite obvious from point one that these were all bigger and nicer trees than I was dealing with at my previous Christmas tree lot. While I was perfectly happy with those, it was difficult given my tendency to be fiscally responsible to find a tree that I considered reasonably priced. After all, it was being donated and I certainly wanted to respect the donor. I settled on a 6' Frasier Fir, primarily because I love the smell of trees and I doubt anything much taller would fit in my rather short little house. He took my delivery information and informed me I was second in line for delivery and gave me a time frame in which I could expect delivery. While I'll admit it seemed a bit slow, he delivered within that time frame and delivery was absolutely top notch so I'm not about to knock off a star for that. He and an assistant delivered the tree and set it up. They took a photo, though I haven't seen the photo on their Facebook page (I'm guessing my house was too dark for a reasonable photo).
I will call them after the Christmas season and they will pick up the tree and dispose of it - this is another awesome option, though I will say I'm not sure how much this service is costing since someone else is picking up the cost.
The Christmas Tree prices at Gore's are higher than most retail outlets I've seen and they were about 20-25% higher than the last Christmas Tree lot I purchased from last year. Additionally, they focus on at least 5' trees and up with most trees I saw being in the 6' - 8' range. Prices seemed to start at about $35 and go upward according to height and type of tree. These are reasonable prices for high quality trees, but those on a budget may find it challenging. Of course, delivery does cost extra and they also offer wreaths and stands.
A quick perusal of Gore's Facebook page, where they also post photos of many of the trees they've sold and set up in homes, will tell you that their clientele tends to be middle-to-upper income families. That said, they came into my decidedly more humble home and were respectful, helpful, and incredibly friendly. Jimmy Gore seemed genuinely pleased to be delivering and setting up a "donated" tree.
Each year, I'll admit I look forward to seeing Gore's pop up in the neighborhood. They seem to appreciate the "tradition" of buying a Christmas tree and their Facebook page really celebrates that quite a bit (though their website could use some help). I really can't tell you how much my Christmas tree has lifted my holiday spirits this year and Gore's has provided a high quality tree and top notch service to make the entire experience a whole lot easier. read more