Donna Jamison Cave, daughter of Peddler’s Village founders Earl and Sheila Jamison, has stepped into the chief executive officer role at the landmark Lahaska shopping village, putting a member of the founding family back in charge of day to day operations after the departure of longtime CEO Bob McGowan. Cave is set to steer long term planning for the property’s real estate and hospitality portfolio while also overseeing daily operations across the 42 acre campus and its busy calendar of seasonal events.
Founder’s Daughter Steps Into CEO Role
According to Patch, the Peddler’s Village board leaned heavily on Cave’s lifelong ties to the place, saying, “There is no one more familiar with the Peddler’s Village ethos, history, and objectives than Donna Jamison Cave.” The outlet reports she has spent the past decade as chair of the board and is moving into the CEO position following McGowan’s exit, a transition local coverage has characterized as a stability play for the still family owned destination.
Her Background And Local Roots
Cave’s professional story runs straight through Lahaska. She started working at Peddler’s Village as a teenager, later logged nearly ten years as chief operating officer, and has served as a trustee since 2003, according to the New Hope Free Press. The outlet notes that in 2023 she and her husband bought and renovated her childhood home behind the village, turning it into The Inn at Fox Briar Farm, which has grown into a busy wedding and event venue. That blend of deep operational experience and hands on hospitality work helped convince the board she was the right person to promote to CEO.
The Numbers: Visitors, Jobs And Land
Peddler’s Village describes itself as a 42 acre destination that draws more than two million visitors each year and supports roughly 350 employees, with over 60 specialty shops, multiple restaurants, a large inn, and the Giggleberry Fair family center, per the village’s own site. Running it is part landlord, part festival producer, part major local employer. Cave will be responsible for maintaining relationships with small businesses while also shaping the visitor experience, a balancing act that will define her shift from board level oversight to hands on executive management.
Timing And Local Context
The leadership story resurfaced when it was republished on BUCKSCO Today on Feb. 21, 2026, with an editor’s note explaining that the original piece ran in October 2025. That reprint briefly pushed the CEO change back into the local news cycle. The appointment also follows a year in which Peddler’s Village placed near the top of USA TODAY’s 10Best shopping center list, a nod that boosted its national profile, as reported by Patch. Together with the packed festival schedule, the attention gives Cave a very public runway to set her priorities for 2026.
What This Means For Merchants And Employees
For the dozens of small businesses operating on site, this is not just a name change on the org chart. The Peddler’s Village merchant manual requires shop owners to coordinate certain events, temporary closures, and other operational choices with management and, in some situations, directly with the CEO. It also spells out expectations around standard hours, participation in village events, and communication channels with leadership, signaling that Cave will be closely involved in merchant relations. For roughly 350 employees and many independent shopkeepers, her appointment is both a symbolic return to family leadership and a very practical shift in who makes the final call on schedules and day to day logistics.
Looking Ahead
“I am thrilled and honored to be the CEO of the business that my parents created,” Cave said in local coverage, according to the New Hope Free Press. In the months ahead, visitors and merchants can expect to see announcements about festival lineups, property maintenance projects, and new merchant programming as she settles into the role and outlines long term plans. The open question for regulars is how Cave will keep the Jamison family’s storybook feel intact while meeting the commercial expectations that now come with being a nationally recognized shopping destination.
