Downtown York Magazine | Summer 23

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE IN DOWNTOWN

YORK

Welcome to Downtown York

05 I A Message from Jonathan Desmarais Director of Downtown Inc

06 I Downtown Map, Getting Here and Parking

Where to go and where to park

Bound Books

08 I Binding Community Through Books

Q&A with Sarah Timmcke and Chuck Blair, owners of Bound Books

Creatives on King

12 I King Street’s Newest Creators

Q&A with the Studio Artists of Creatives on King: Reagan Bitler, Debbie Toluba, and Nicole Osborne

Downtown Dish

15 I The Soulful Return of Sushi to Central Market

How two brothers are bringing high-level Japanese cuisine to the downtown

Historic York

20 I History and Hospitality in Continental Square

One South Boutique Hotel & Event Venue and the history behind their building

York County Trail Towns

22 I Gathering in WeCo

18 DOWNTOWN DWELLER

Downtown York: A Hidden Diamond No Longer

A spotlight on Ophelia Chambliss, a WeCo resident and owner of Ophelia’s Making Agency

Gather 256’s mission to create a space for the community and beyond

BLOOM Business Empowerment Center

24 I The Reinvigorated Energy in Downtown York’s Markets

Q&A with entrepreneurs Michael Breeland and Brando Diaz

Events

26 I What’s happening around Downtown York

A Message from Jonathan Desmarais

As a community that traces its origins back to the founding of our nation, Downtown York has no shortage of history; beautiful historic architecture, a renovated historic theatre, an exquisitely restored historic hotel, and two farmers’ markets that have been in continuous operation since the latter part of the 1800s. However, visitors to Downtown York will not only discover a community steeped in history, but a community that is in a constant state of reinvention, renewal, and reimagination.

While Downtown York is known for the signing of the Articles of Confederation, it is also known for its diversity of culture, cuisine, and commerce; a place where over 60 new

Downtown Inc Team

JONATHAN DESMARAIS

Director of Downtown Inc

HANNAH BEARD

Community Engagement Manager

BRONLEY MARTIN

Urban Revitalization Manager

KATIE MAHONEY

Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer

Board Of Directors

Chair: ANEURY PEREZ Fulton Bank

Vice Chair: JULIAN TOLBERT

Community Investor

Treasurer: JOANNE WILMORE

Grace Manor B&B

Secretary: ALLISON WITHEROW

O.N.E. Hospitality Group

businesses have opened its doors in the past three years; and a community that welcomes and celebrates its dreamers, its creators, and its makers

There’s no better way to put it, Downtown York is Historically Edgy. I invite you to come and experience our community’s tradition and innovation, nostalgia and progress, and its place in America’s past, present, and future.

JONATHAN DESMARAIS

Director of Downtown Inc

MELISSA BEAVERSON Explore York

LAUREN DAYS

Sara Ellen Event Venue

CHRIS HARRIS Stock & Leader

JOHN KLINEDINST

C.S. Davidson, Inc

ERIC MENZER The York Revolution

DELIA PABON Parliament Arts Organization

CINDY STEELE Central Market House

Downtown Map

With its imaginative arts community, stunning architecture and restaurants that push the limits of flavor, DOWNTOWN YORK is the creative core of York County. It’s where the word revolutionary isn’t just a nod to the city’s past, but an indicator of its future. We invite you to visit today and soak in rich history, charming boutiques and a growing craft beer scene. You’ll find that Downtown York is HISTORICALLY EDGY, inside and out. This map will get you started!

CODORUSCREEK

Getting Here

DOWNTOWN YORK is easily accessible from all points north, south, east and west. Main arteries you want to look for? George Street and Queen Street from the north and south; Market Street and Philadelphia Street from the east and west.

FROM LANCASTER:

• Take Route 30 West to North George Street

• Turn left onto North George Street

• Follow straight

FROM HARRISBURG AND ALL POINTS NORTH:

• Take I-83 South to Route 30 West, Exit 22 (North George Street)

• Stay in the middle lane and turn right at the light onto North George Street

• Follow straight

Parking is plentiful in York City, with 350 on-street meters and 1,260 garage spaces in three garages conveniently located within walking distance to downtown attractions.

GARAGE LOCATIONS

• Market Street Garage (41 E. Market St.)

• Philadelphia Street Garage (25 W. Philadelphia St.)

• King Street Garage (15 W. King St.)

FROM GETTYSBURG:

• Take Route 30 East to North George Street

• Turn right onto North George Street

• Follow straight

FROM SOUTH/BALTIMORE:

• Take I-83 North to South George Street Exit

• Follow Business I-83/South George Street

Parking just got a whole lot easier with the ParkMobile App!

No more scrambling to find loose change, returning to your car to feed the meter, or difficulty finding a spot. Download it to your mobile device before your next trip to Downtown York for an easy, contactless payment option.

• Central Market Parking Deck (W. Philadelphia & N. Beaver St.)

PARKING METERS

Metered, on-street parking is available. Enforcement hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm (Free on Sundays and holidays observed by the City of York), and Saturday from 9am - 3pm for parking meters located in the "Retail Zone." Meters are marked with the hours of operation and enforcement.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Please direct all parking questions, concerns and comments to:

YORK CITY PARKING BUREAU: 717.815.0517

Binding Community Through Books

Q&A with Sarah Timmcke and Chuck Blair, owners of Bound Books

We spoke with Sarah Timmcke and Chuck Blair, owners of Bound Books, Downtown York’s newest bookshop. Sarah and Chuck are relative newcomers to York; Sarah relocated here six years ago from Parkton, Maryland, and Chuck moved in with Sarah after 30 years in Lancaster. Their collective love of books and reading, plants, and community presented them with an opportunity to leave their office jobs, and when the perfect storefront came available in Downtown York, they took the leap together. Bound has quickly become a hot spot for meeting, reading, discovering new books, and connecting.

Q: Tell us about the shop!

SARAH: Bound Books is an independent bookstore with a curated selection of new books, plants, gift items, and a small selection of pastries and beverages. Our goal is to bind the community together through a love of reading.

“Our goal is to bind the community together through a love of reading.”

~ SARAH TIMMCKE, BOUND BOOKS

Q: What led you to open a bookshop?

CHUCK: Several things came together that brought us to this point. We were both in careers that didn’t allow for much creativity. I was looking for a challenge outside of the 9-5 IT career that I have been in for more than 25 years. We both share a love of books and I had considered working in a bookstore or library as a pre-retirement plan. Eventually that morphed into the idea: “What if I owned a bookstore?”

SARAH: I was mostly looking for a career that got me outside of an office environment, but I also wanted a job with some form of artistic expression, which I was lacking in past positions. Once Chuck shared his idea of owning a bookstore, I was sold but I had one stipulation – we had to have plants.

Q: Why did you choose to be located in Downtown York?

CHUCK: Well, first we live in York and it was easy to imagine opening a location that would keep our lives in York. We honestly looked at several small towns and kept on coming back to the fact that this was our home base. We also noticed a need in Downtown York for more retail shopping options, especially a bookshop.

SARAH: Truthfully, the exact location found us! We were not at all prepared to open a store, but the space presented itself and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. The way things came together seemed very serendipitous.

Q: Tell us about the plants!

SARAH: We get our plants from Hueter’s Greenhouses. One of our goals early on was to try and partner with as many local businesses as we could, so we feel like we really lucked out when we were able to work with Hueter’s. While selecting our plants for the store we focus on finding a variety of easy-to-care-for small to medium houseplantsnothing too large or too needy. We also have a selection of pots that people can mix and match with their plant.

CHUCK: We also have a variety of gift items that are in some way related to plants, writing, or reading. We try to be selective about the items we sell to be sure that they fit the overall feel of the store. I have to admit I break that rule sometimes when picking funny cards or corny stickers.

Q: What about food and beverages?

SARAH: Since we are both originally from other areas, we wanted to bring a bit of our hometowns to our customers, so we chose vendors from those areas. Our coffee is from Square One in Lancaster, our tea is from Wight Tea Co. in Baltimore, and our pastries are from The Contented Rooster, in Parkton, MD. We wanted our customers to be able to sit down with a cup of coffee or tea and a pastry while they read. We offer three types of drip coffees, more than 10 varieties of teas, and our baked goods include cookies, scones, muffins, and the very popular lavender shortbread.

Q: What kind of programming do you host?

CHUCK: We’ve already had a couple of book clubs meet in our space which is something that we definitely want to do more of in the future. We’ve had an evening with live music which went very well. We are currently scheduling a children’s story time with a local author, and plan to continue with regular story times. Also, once we get better established with the publishing community, we plan to host author events.

Q: Has anything about opening your new business in Downtown York surprised you?

CHUCK: We were very pleased to get such a warm welcome from the downtown community and the book-loving residents of York! We have had so many people come in and say things like “York needed this!,” and it was a much more enthusiastic response than we expected.

Q: What is your favorite part about operating your business?

CHUCK: We love meeting our customers and finding out what they are reading, what they enjoy, and what they are looking for from us. We said early on that we want to build a sense of community, which the name “Bound” plays into. It’s so much fun when we can recommend a great read to someone and have them come back and talk about it with us.

SARAH: As the person who is in the store the most (Chuck is still working his day job) I have to say that I am really enjoying getting to know the “regular” customers. It’s always nice to see familiar faces.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of Bound Books?

CHUCK: First, we hope to be here a long, long time (Re: my retirement plan.) More importantly, we hope to be helpful to the York community in ways that go beyond just the transactional nature of traditional commerce. We also want to become a destination that people seek out, bringing in visitors from a wider area.

KING STREET’S NEWEST CREATORS

Creatives on King is the newest art gallery in the Royal Square District, Downtown York’s destination for art. Around the two-story art gallery, art of all mediums is displayed in no particular category on shelves and walls to encourage visitors to explore the space and appreciate each piece. Collectively, there are works from 25 artists in the gallery, but three creators hold studio space on the second floor: Studio artists, Debbie Toluba and Nicole Osborne, and owner, Reagan Bitler.

THREE QUESTIONS WITH THE THREE CREATORS

with the Studio Artists of Creatives on King

BY HANNAH BEARD | MARKETING & MERCHANT ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Q: Why did you choose Downtown York as the location for Creatives on King?

DEBBIE: In 2021 I started making art and had a space at The Grotto. I was ready for a space where I could more easily sell my art. I liked the vision of art and opportunity for Creatives on King, that I could have a studio and sell. The Royal Square District is a centralized mass of the same type of business. I have always been a supporter of the York arts scene and watched the artists from afar. It’s neat to be a part of that now.

ARTIST BIOS

(Pictured on page 12, from left to right)

DEBBIE TOLUBA began painting in 2021 and focuses on exploring color and texture in each unique piece of her abstract, colorful art. Debbie, a newlywed, lives, works, and plays in Downtown York.

REAGAN BITLER uses dark line pyrography and the application of vibrant colors to turn raw gourds into works of art, a skill he has been mastering for over a decade. He is the President of the American Gourd Society. godahavomgourds.com

NICOLE OSBORNE teaches eighth-grade art at a local middle school and owns a business, Reptile Smiles, where she integrates her love for animals and artmaking to students of all ages. Nicole’s personal art themes include womanhood and nature in ceramics, oil, and mixed mediums. reptilesmiles.com

REAGAN: York has the market appeal. The Royal Square District is already an established destination with foot traffic.

NICOLE: I am trying to be more emersed in the York Community. I’ve enjoyed the mentorship and dedication to propping up the arts in York. The priority here (Royal Square District) is small business, specifically the arts. The Cultural Alliance has really given next level mentorship and pushed me beyond what I thought I’d be able to achieve.

Q: What makes Creatives on King unique?

REAGAN: We each have a working studio that is visible to the public. Artists can create work here and display it for sale in their studio or anywhere around the building. We also have a classroom space where we teach on site, host events like First Friday, or hold private classes.

with a wide variety of 2D and 3D mediums in a range of price points that appeal to the community.

Q: What is in store for the future of Creatives on King?

NICOLE: I want to work on growing myself as an artist. I spend my time teaching and want to have a space that can be a focus for learning more skills. I am working towards my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and plan to host art therapy classes in our classroom.

DEBBIE: My goal is to continue to explore my artistic style and figure out what type of work is marketable for the community. I want to give a fun experience to those that visit.

REAGAN: We want to feature more 3D art and continue to involve all mediums of art.

ADDITIONAL GALLERIES IN THE ROYAL SQUARE DISTRICT:

OMG STUDIOS

57 E King St.

THE PARLIAMENT ARTS ORGANIZATION

116 E. King St. parliamentyork.org

HIVE ARTSPACE GALLERY & STUDIOS

126 E. King St. hiveartspace.com

VENTURE

128 E. King St.

STUDIO 117

117 S. Duke St. Studio117york.com

PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN YORK

133 S. Duke St. pcad.edu

THE DARK PARLOUR

118 E. King St. thedarkparlour.com

KING’S COURTYARD ARTISTS’ COLLECTIVE

124 E. King St. kingscourtyardgallery.com

VISIT CREATIVES ON KING DURING FIRST FRIDAY: Each month, Creatives on King hosts a FREE make-and-take art experience for all ages while supplies last. Visitors can drop by the upstairs classroom any time between 5pm and 9pm to participate. 104

DOWNTOWN DISH THE Soulful Return OF SUSHI TO CENTRAL MARKET

Upon entering Downtown York’s Central Market before typical lunch hours, one feels “a calm before the storm,” with vendors busily prepping for the day’s customers. This is especially true of the bamboo lined stand towards the center of the over 125-year-old market house, where visitors are greeted by hanging lit lanterns and the sounds of music pulsing positive vibes. The people behind the stand are slicing avocado, prepping fresh fish, mixing tempura batter, and cooking a large container of rice. This stand is home to Nama Sushi

Nama, meaning “raw” in Japanese, is the name given to the sushi and Japanese cuisine stand run by Roberto

How two brothers are bringing high-level Japanese cuisine to the downtown

BY JEREMY SLAGLE | CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Katindig and his brother, Errol. Both originally from Philadelphia, it was here that Roberto, the stand’s main chef, started his culinary journey training under Masaharu Morimoto at the Iron Chef’s contemporary Japanese cuisine flagship restaurant, Morimoto.

The partnership of Nama Sushi and Central Market, however, is actually a reunion story, dating back to 2011 when the brothers originally called the market home. Under the same name, the stand then was a bit ahead of its time as sushi hadn’t quite broken into the mainstream audience yet.

After closing the original stand, Roberto went to Houston, Texas where he worked and trained in fine culinary restaurants with often “Hell’s Kitchen” type environments. He then continued his career working at and managing sushi locations within the airport. It was through these experiences that Roberto fine-tuned his culinary and business skills, and aimed to create dishes of the highest standards.

Errol, on the other hand, remained in York and grew a business of his own, Diggiefit. Maintaining a pulse on York’s food scene, he noticed the interest for sushi had grown over the years, and finally persuaded his brother to return to York to give his dream a second chance.

A perk of the market house that appealed to them was the sense of community within its walls, from the support of the market itself with events and activities, to the connectedness between the vendors.

“Everybody pulls for each other,” shares Roberto. That factor, and the feeling of starting where they left off, made Roberto decide Central Market was the perfect environment to grow a following. “I wanted to establish myself and my business in a growing downtown,” said Roberto. “I want to be a part of an evolving York.”

Nama Sushi’s return to Central Market has been a strong one, with business growing steady since their opening in early April. The brothers were even able to reunite with Kristin, a former employee of theirs who worked the original market stand. “I saw that they were bringing back sushi to York and I wanted to work with them again,” shared Kristin. “The timing just worked out right to work with them again after all these years.”

Everything at Nama Sushi is fresh and made to order, with a regular menu offering your basic and traditional sushi rolls, as well as an extensive offering of Specialty Rolls full of unique creations, like the “Tiger Roll” which is wrapped in spicy Cheetos. In addition to sushi, they also offer rotating specials like Poke or Pepper Tuna Bowls, Salmon Teriyaki, and Miso Baked Cod.

For his customers, Roberto strives to offer not only a high-quality, delicious product at an accessible cost, but dishes that showcase the art of sushi and Japanese cuisine. “This is not your typical sushi bar,” stated Roberto. “I want people to know my culture and style, and experience my unique training. I bring the soul of sushi.”

DISHES TO TRY (left from top to bottom):

Twin Roll - Shrimp tempura, softshell crab, Cajun crawfish, cucumber, soy wrap, tempura flakes, spicy aioli, sweet soy crunchies

Shaggy Dog Roll – A returning favorite to Central Market: Shrimp tempura, avocado, topped with crab, eel sauce, spicy aioli

Pepper Tuna Bowl - Crack peppered tuna with seaweed salad, avocado, nori, masago, and citrus soy, over white rice.

BY JONATHAN DESMARAIS | DIRECTOR OF DOWNTOWN INC

It may have been a career that brought Ophelia Chambliss from Chicago to York in early 2000, but what made her stay was the recognition of Downtown York’s potential. As she explained, “When I first got here, people were saying that they wanted to make York an arts destination, and I took that quite literally. That became my goal.”

23 years later, as an accomplished artist, an educator, a cultivator of community, an owner and operator of both a working artist studio/gallery space and a nonprofit, and now a downtown dweller, Ophelia has played a vital role in transforming the WeCo District of Downtown York into the growing and thriving community that it is today.

Between her recently purchased historic home steps away from Penn Market and her Making Agency building with its newly installed WeCo mural welcoming visitors to the district as they cross the creek, Ophelia has fully committed her life to the mission. In her own words,

“I’m one of Downtown York’s biggest cheerleaders, because I believe in it.”

When she’s not painting a new mural or art installation at her working studio or inspiring young artists and entrepreneurs at her nonprofit, she can be found enjoying the walkability of her community; grabbing a bite to eat in between projects from Pecan Tree Café, meeting friends at Gather 256, or enjoying a sit-down lunch at Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro.

Downtown York may no longer be that hidden diamond, but for Ophelia, there is work still to be done. As she explains, “I hope we continue to polish off this diamond that is Downtown York and have it sparkle so much that people will say, ‘I can’t believe I didn’t see that! What I thought was a piece of coal is actually

“I’m one of Downtown York’s biggest cheerleaders, because I believe in it.”

~ Ophelia Chambliss, Ophelia’s Making Agency

History and Hospitality in Continental Square

One South Boutique Hotel & Event Venue and the history behind their building

BY BRENDAN SALYARDS | MANAGER, ECONOMIC INITIATIVES

Since the mid-19th century, the Southeast Corner of Continental Square has been home to the building that we know today as One South George Street. Throughout its 173-year history, the building has been redeveloped at least three times, gaining, losing, and subsequently regaining stories as various owners have adapted the building to suit their needs. Since 2019, the building has been owned by O.N.E. Hospitality Group, which has been working to complete its new vision for the building.

The combination of an event space and hotel within one building in Downtown York makes One South Boutique a unique location for weddings, baby showers, conferences, and other special events. The flexible venue can be decorated for any event and patrons wishing to reserve the hotel rooms and the venue can do so at a

From an operations standpoint, The Boutique Hotel, occupying the fourth floor of the building, is at the cutting edge of the hospitality industry. Guests check in to their rooms through a totally automated system providing added convenience for travelers. The open-concept rooms are tastefully decorated with modern décor and furnishings. Hotel patrons are encouraged to visit local businesses during their stay, and touch screen systems allow guests to browse local restaurants’ offerings and receive recommendations based on their preferences. The hotel’s location in the heart of Downtown York provides patrons with a breadth of options within walking distance.

O.N.E. Hospitality Group’s future plans for the building include expanding the hotel by building out the third floor with additional guest rooms, as well as fully launching , a restaurant specializing in ramen, with a planned

1 S George St, York, PA 17401 717.220.5330

onesouthyork.com I

2019 -

is

2023

PHOTO CREDIT: York County History Center

1850 - The building located at One South George Street is constructed by John Hartman. At the time, it was the tallest building in York.

1933 - Futer Bros. Jewelers relocates to the Hartman Building from their original location at 166 West Market Street.

1967 - The Futer Family purchases the Hartman Building, reduces the building from seven stories to three stories and adds a modern façade, of which the first floor is still visible today.

2006 - Futer Bros. Jewelers relocates from the building – now known as the Futer Building – to its current location in East York.

Building

purchased by O.N.E Hospitality Group, owned and operated by Toni Calderone, and is redeveloped. The second floor is occupied by an event venue and the fifth floor houses office space.

- Boutique Hotel opens to the public with five guest rooms on the fourth floor available to rent.

ONE SOUTH GEORGE STREET TIMELINE

Gathering in WeCo

Gather 256’s mission to create a space for the community and beyond

BY DAVID GONZALEZ I DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC INITIATIVES

“My family and I are active trail users and it has been great to see the trail grow further in popularity.”

~ SARAH CAHILL, GATHER 256

community to meet, celebrate, and engage. In talking with Chef and Owner, Sarah Cahill, it’s clear that focus of community is front and center to the business’s operations.

The sole-proprietor has her community and the one that has formed around this café to thank for the success of the space. “Formerly this café operated as I-ron-ic, where it was beloved and the previous owners, David and Steve, poured their hearts into the space and neighborhood. That’s what I love about the shop,” Sarah shares. “The community has already looked to this café as a gathering space and I wanted to build on what has been created.” Sarah is reviewing ways that the shop can improve from expanding its opening hours, menu, and catering options.

The café is positioned to offer something for everyone and grow the food scene in the WeCo District. From offering hot and cold beverage options, to a robust breakfast and lunch menu, and dessert options sure to satisfy any sweet tooth, Gather 256 is a great go-to spot for the weekday hustle and bustle or laid-back Saturdays. “We’re creating a space welcoming to families, friends, and collaboration,” Sarah highlights. “Our patio is open and has kids in mind. Parents can catch up with friends while their kids enjoy our sandbox or checkout the plants that fill the space.” Sarah’s call for collaboration includes welcoming artists to showcase their work in her space, hosting a plant studio in part of the second floor, and working with partners to support activities and events in WeCo.

Sarah is committed to providing a space that helps cater to the recreational users who frequent the Heritage Rail Trail and partnering with like-minded businesses to continue the cultivation of the community as an outdoor recreational destination. “My family and I are active trail users and it has been great to see the trail grow further in popularity,” states Sarah. “We’ve frequented many of the businesses along the trail and are now excited to welcome users to our café. We are pleased to offer wi-fi, our restrooms, and a space that users can recharge.”

256

17403 717.793.3258

The Reinvigorated Energy in Downtown York’s Markets

Q&A with entrepreneurs Michael Breeland and Brando Diaz

BY MARLENA SCHUGT | BLOOM PROGRAM MANAGER

Market have been able to thrive and launch their business ideas with new stands or expansion of their current operations.

To better understand the business journey of market vendors and the critical role that the market plays for them, we met up with Michael Breeland Michael’s Low-Country Kitchen and Bakery Downtown York BLOOM Grant Recipient who recently expanded his stand in Penn Market, as well as Diaczun and Brando Diaz, graduates of the BLOOM 101 Classes who opened Paco’s Tacos in Market last year.

Q: Tell us a little about your stand and how you got started?

MICHAEL: Throughout my whole life I was surrounded by good food. My mother, my grandmother, my aunt, cousins, uncles, all had a passion for cooking, and the food was good. I’ve always been an avid baker and cook. I worked as a therapist for 36 years, but for me, I needed a change of pace. COVID really opened my eyes to reinvigorate and reinvent myself, so I chose to take my talents and create Michael’s Low-Country Kitchen and Bakery LLC. I wanted to share my love and passion for food with York.

Brando Diaz and Anisa Diaczun - Check out Paco’s Tacos in Central Market (37 N Beaver St) on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday for creative takes on delicious Mexican dishes such as rice and beans, breakfast burritos, and for some of the best smoked brisket tacos you can nd. @PacosTacos717

Bakery in Penn Market (380 W Market St) on Tuesday,

BRANDO: I grew up with my grandma’s cooking and I remember at a young age thinking “I’m going to culinary school to learn French and Italian cuisine, and become a fine dining chef one day.” I did it for a couple years, but I realized I didn’t like a lot of the food I was cooking. An associate reached out about the stand being available, and towards the end of COVID, the market wasn’t at full capacity yet and we were a little hesitant. But I remember saying, “If there’s a good way to start fresh, it would be here.” A lot of this was wanting to touch roots with my family’s cuisine, tying in the local aspect and just creating my own stuff and recipes.

Q: How important has the community been in Downtown York and the market?

MICHAEL: Community is very important for me. I like to see this community thrive, throughout downtown and the whole city. In here (Penn Market), we also have a sense of community and family. The vendors are close-knit, support one another, and take care of one another. It’s very important for us that we know what each person is selling so we guide and direct customers to whatever they’re looking for. We all pitch in. One of the great joys is just seeing this market flowing with people coming through. Now it’s like a big festive party and the aisles are full of people and the children are running through laughing. It’s nice seeing this market vibrant again.

BRANDO: Community made running the stand a lot easier. One of my favorite vendors, Locust Point, is right across from us so we’re able to source some of our meats from them. Mad Radish and Brogues Hydroponics are bringing great produce in, and Homegrown Marketplace is providing us with eggs, milk, and butter. It was a challenge at first, sourcing local, but in the past year, the distribution prices have gone up so now local foods were almost at the same price point. As everyone was raising their prices, I was able to maintain mine from pre-COVID. This is why everyone needs to be supporting local.

Q: What does the future hold for your business?

MICHAEL: I want to get to the point where I can have some employees and a storefront or shop where people can come in and get baked goods, food and just socialize. I want them to feel comfortable and food for me is a way to break bread with people and get to know them.

BRANDO: I’d love to have a stand here, one at Lancaster Market, one at Harrisburg Market, and just keep it simple and focused on local ingredients. We’re really excited for the summertime with First Fridays and the foot traffic increase has been amazing. I’m mainly excited to see what York is all about this summer, especially after everything that has happened the past couple years. I see a very bright, full, downtown happening this summer.

For more information about BLOOM workshops, grant programs, and more, visit bloomyork.org

York Story Slam, Archetype Pizza, 7-9 pm

Join the monthly gathering to hear true, personal stories and maybe share your own! July’s theme is “Ticket to Ride”. Learn more at yorkstoryslam.com

DowntownYorkPA.com

FRIDAY, JULY 7

First Friday presented by WellSpan Health

Downtown York, 5-9 pm

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4

First Friday presented by WellSpan Health

Downtown York, 5-9 pm

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10

Downtown First Awards presented by The Glatfelter Agency

Keystone Kidspace

10 Hamilton Ave, 6-8 pm

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16

BLOOM Business Series Workshop presented by PNC

Virtual, 8:30-9:30 am

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

First Friday presented by WellSpan Health

Downtown York, 5-9 pm

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

BLOOM Business Series Workshop presented by PNC Virtual, 8:30-9:30 am

enrootyork.org

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15

York Story Slam: Warning Signs

Archetype Pizza, 7-9 pm

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18

PechaKucha Night Wyndridge Farm, 6-8 pm

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

York Story Slam: Coming Home

Archetype Pizza, 7-9 pm

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17

York Story Slam: Potluck (Open Theme)

Archetype Pizza, 7-9 pm

144 Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 100 York, PA 17401