NEWTOWN, Pa., April 30 (UPI) -- An Internet-organized "cash mob" of about 100 people visited a 143-year-old Pennsylvania store to give a boost to the struggling business, its owner said.
About 100 residents of the Newtown area arrived Saturday at the Newtown Hardware House and each purchased multiple items to help the store remain afloat despite its recent cash-flow problems, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday.
The store opened in 1869, was rebuilt in 1899 after a fire and has been owned by Dave Callahan for the past 27 years,
Andy Smith, a local publicist, said he was inspired to organize the "cash mob" on Facebook after hearing about similar events in other parts of the country.
"I've seen them popping up around the country for the past year or so," Smith said. "I knew [the store's employees] were holding a campaign to increase business. So I figured it will take 10 minutes for a Facebook thing and we'll see what happens."
Callahan said the group helped him make $3,700, far more than the $2,000 he usually brings in on a Saturday.
