Emily Drobnock believes that some things are meant to be, and the location of her jewelry boutique, Knock Knock Boutique, on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey is no exception. Having grown up with both her father and grandparents owning several businesses, Emily always had the idea of opening her own shop, but it wasn’t until she began to struggle in her education job that she realized she wanted something different out of her career.
Strangely enough, in 2014 Emily was walking in downtown Hershey and spotted the boutique’s current location, which appeared to be a minimally used office. She slipped a note in the mailbox saying she would be interested in taking over the space. Within the week she received a phone call saying that the tenant was looking to get out of their lease. Believing this was the sign she needed, Emily began preparations for the shop she had always dreamed of. With the rise in popularity of online shopping, Emily realized she was taking a risk but felt the area was lacking shopping destinations that specialized in affordable accessories.
Knock Knock Boutique, now with two locations in Hershey and Elizabethtown, offers a wide range of fashion jewelry, accessories, and gifts. All items are brand-new, hand-selected, and reasonably priced–typically ranging from $5 to $35. Many of the items are one- or two-of-a-kind, because, as Emily points out, “Who wants to have the very same earrings as the person next to them?”
It’s not just the unique jewelry that makes Knock Knock Boutique a special shopping experience, but also the small shop feel.
Natasha Miller, a regular customer turned employee, credits the “kind and personal service that you don’t receive at most places” as the draw that kept her coming back to and eventually even working at Knock Knock Boutique.
“We aim to please with our customer service and love when customers bring their outfits in the shop to accessorize,” shares Emily. “If you are looking for something specific, I feel confident that my employees and I can point you in the right direction! It is very much a small business, and I hope that comes across in each visit to the shop.”
Adding to that specialized service and sense of community, the boutique hosts after-hours events for bridal parties and local fundraisers.
Noting that shopping with friends is a great way to relax, Emily acknowledges, “Retail therapy is real, and we are here to help!”
Natasha enjoys seeing customers light up when they find the perfect “sparkling something” for an event but admits it’s often during the quieter moments when she connects with them on a deeper level.
“We get to hear stories behind the purchase of a piece that was chosen as something personally meaningful or symbolic to themselves or someone special,” Natasha says, adding that her job at Knock Knock Boutique “makes me smile every day.”
It’s those everyday interactions that Emily believes are the “heart and soul” of Knock Knock Boutique.
Hershey is a tourist town for much of the year, but Emily is grateful for the consistent support of the fashionable local community, noting that without them, “Knock Knock would not be what it is today.”
With two locations and a strong local customer base, Knock Knock Boutique has thrived since its inception, in no small part due to Emily’s hard work, dedication, and attention to detail.
Despite the efforts required to run a business, Emily stresses that, “business ownership is the best decision. I have met so many people through Knock Knock that I now consider friends, and I think that is really special.”
Struggling to describe why she felt inspired to open a jewelry boutique in that little office building, Emily says, “I can’t explain it, other than I just had a good feeling about a little boutique on Chocolate Avenue.” Some things really are meant to be.
Knock Knock Boutique
110 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, PA
717-298-6331
8 S. Market St., Elizabethtown, PA
717-689-3238
Facebook and Instagram @shopknockknock