Downtown Lancaster is becoming the place to do business. Since January 1, 41 new small businesses opened their doors or plan to open soon.
Kristin Snyder owns women’s and house wares boutique Sophie Stargazer at 149 East King St. It’s one of several new businesses on the block, adding life to some long vacant spaces.
“We’re all really new,” Snyder said. “So it’s exciting to be a part of a community that’s really building and helping the community and sort of developing a new area for everyone.”
What’s happening on King Street is going on throughout downtown and the city’s northwest side. The Lancaster City Alliance, a non-profit that promotes economic development in the city, is tracking the downtown business boom.
“We’re doing very, very well right now and it runs the gamut, everything from restaurants, about 17 of them are restaurants or cafes,” said Marshall Snively, executive vice president and COO of the Lancaster City Alliance. “Anything from a movie theater that’s opened just three blocks west of me, to new retail.”
The Aussie and the Fox on West King St. is one of the restaurants. Co-owner Colin Morrell said the charm of the historic downtown building was definitely a draw, along with the other small business owners taking a chance in an improving economy.
“It’s an up-and-coming city. I mean, in the last 10 years, more people are coming back to Lancaster and it’s really evolving and growing,” Morrell said.
If you’re interested in starting a business or moving your business to downtown Lancaster, the Lancaster Alliance can help you find a space and navigate the process.