91 meeting attendees

Marshall Snively expressed his gratitude to everyone for attending and encouraged them to maintain the momentum by marking their calendars for the monthly merchant meetings through November.

Marshall Snively extends a warm invitation to join us in celebrating a significant milestone: the 10th Anniversary of the Lancaster City Alliance. Join us for a special breakfast and keynote speaker at the Lancaster County Convention Center on Friday, June 28
Information for tickets and sponsorship opportunities can be found here.

All are invited to the Lancaster City Spring Merchant Mixer, hosted by the Downtown Investment District, Lancaster City Alliance, at Little Mutants Brewery,  841 N. Prince Street, on Thursday, May 16, from 5:30 until 7:00 p.m. This event is free to attend and an excellent opportunity to network. Oh, and your first beverage is compliments of Lancaster City Alliance. We hope to see many of you there! RSVP if you plan to attend at info@teamlanc.org with Merchant Mixer in the subject line.

Marshall Snively expressed gratitude to our Legacy Sponsors for their generous support, which enables these meetings, along with acknowledgment of our Visionary Sponsors listed on the agenda.

Dave Aichele extended appreciation to our Community Partners: Millersville University at The Ware Center for hosting our meetings and Colonial Parking for providing parking in the lot across Prince Street. Additionally, he reviewed the Great Meeting Guide to ensure the best possible experience at our Merchant Meetings.

In a departure from the regular format of these meetings, Marshall Snively introduced a discussion of the events in downtown Lancaster on Saturday, March 23, that culminated in the temporary evacuation of parts of the central business core.

Marshall began by thanking the City of Lancaster, the Lancaster Bureau of Police, and the local business owners affected by this event for the extraordinary way they responded. They put safety first without panic, and customers and guests were moved to safer locations until businesses could be reopened when the order was lifted. 

Reflections on the Events of Saturday, March 23

Representatives from the Lancaster City Bureau of Fire, Lancaster City Bureau of Police, and the City of Lancaster Department of Neighborhood Engagement attended the April Merchant Meeting to review the events of Saturday, March 23, and provide details on best practices for the merchant community to be advised and respond to emergencies moving forward.

• Lt. Mark Radmore provided a detailed account of the sequence of events on March 23, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the Lancaster Bureau of Police to secure the Lancaster Public Library and promptly respond to a suspicious package and numerous email threats.
• Yazmin Way, Permit Coordinator at the City of Lancaster’s Department of Neighborhood Engagement, reviewed the protocols for acquiring a permit for a public event and the steps the City takes to ensure a safe experience for all in the community.
  Find more information on Event Permit Application process here.
  • DJ Ramsay, Communications Manager, City of Lancaster, encouraged all to sign up for Red Rose Alerts. The City of Lancaster uses Red Rose Alerts to send residents, businesses, and utility customers important information and emergency alerts. This system enables the City to quickly provide you with critical information in various situations, such as utility issues, service cancellations, severe weather, unexpected road closures, and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.
  Once you opt-in, you will receive time-sensitive messages wherever you specify, such as your home, mobile, or business phones, email addresses, text messages, and more. You decide where and how you receive notifications.
  Sign up for Red Rose Alerts here.

The following feedback was provided:

Many of the business owners present thanked the City Staff and the City Bureau of Police for the calm and effective way that they handled the situation. They were grateful for the timely alerts and for being kept informed, as far as possible, in a timely matter.

It was suggested that a preventative measure to avert actions like this from happening in the future would be to improve the culture in the business community to one that is more openly LGBTQ+ affirming and create openly safe spaces for that community.

Member Spotlight

Kathlene Sullivan introduced Evan Young and Emily Moccero, owners of Larkstone.  View the full presentation here.

Special Presentation: U.S. Women’s Open Returns to Lancaster

Marshall Snively introduced Allison Burns, Director, and Bryan McGee, Assistant Director, of the 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship. This highly anticipated event returns to Lancaster Country Club from May 30 through June 2, offering an exceptional opportunity for our local small business community. Anticipated to yield an estimated $30 million impact on the local economy, the USGA event draws visitors worldwide to our County and City. Notably, NBC will provide extensive coverage, including 26 hours focusing on the championship and the vibrant community surrounding the course.
View the full presentation here.
• Carla Good with LNP Media Group reported that LNP will create a special section for the U.S. Women’s Open.  It will be distributed to an estimated 44K visitors per day and appear in LNP Newspaper. If anyone is interested in ad opportunities, please email her at cgood@lnpnews.com or call her at 717-468-9034

Presentation: Lancaster Asian American Pacific Islanders – AAPI

We were delighted to welcome Cindy Guo, President, Libby Ethridge, Events Chair, and Adam Hosey, Advocacy Chair of Lancaster AAPI, to the Merchant Meeting. May is a special month for Lancaster Asian American Pacific Islanders because of the national recognition of the historical contributions and influences of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, which enrich the life and culture of this country.
Lancaster AAPI, a vibrant and active local organization whose mission is to celebrate and advocate for the Asian American community in Lancaster County and beyond, plans to honor National AAPI Month this May. They include events that are safe spaces and open to all. A list with details of those events can be found here.

Member Introductions

• • Carole Kirchner hopes that everyone will save the date for the SoWe Earth Day Celebration at 285 Conestoga Street on Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Cindy Guo, co-owner of Silantra Asian Street Kitchen, encouraged everyone to watch for a May fundraiser announcement on their social media to benefit the Lancaster Public Library.
  • Jason Algire, Finance Specialist for ASSETS, announced the return of The Great Social Enterprise Pitch on Thursday, September 12, at Mickey’s Black Box. Stay tuned for details on how to enter the Pitch and attend the final competition.
  • Rachael Vieni Reinmiller of Commonwealth Kitchen attended in her new role as Executive Administrator of the Rotary Club of Lancaster. She is interested in any projects or topics attendees feel their Rotary Club might assist with.
  • Kevin Molloy, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, was excited to announce that the LAUNCH Music Conference and Festival will bring 3K visitors daily to the City of Lancaster from Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28. He knows they will receive a warm welcome from the merchant community.
  • Nick Hmel, co-owner of Boba Thai Café, was delighted to attend his first merchant meeting and thanked the community for the overwhelming support that Boba Thai has received this past year. He invites all to stop by the café at 400 N. Prince Street on Tuesday, April 30, to celebrate National Bubble Tea Day!
  • Lori Johnson, Community Outreach Manager with The Candy Factory, invited anyone who would like to learn about the unique coworking community at TCF to arrange a visit and take a tour. Contact her at lori@thesweetcore.com
  • Kate Wright, Special Events Manager for the Lancaster Office of Promotion, was excited to announce that the First Friday Artist Alley events have been rebranded to First Friday Market & Makers and will take place in Ewell Plaza starting with May First Friday on May 3 from 5 until 8 p.m. The City is partnering with PCA&D to add more space & creativity for makers to showcase their talent! The Red Rose Run, now in its 48^th year, returns to Lancaster on Saturday, June 1. Registration info and form available here.
  • Cheila Huettner, City of Lancaster Bureau Chief of Tourism & Promotion, announced the return of the First Friday Trolley and the addition of Rural City Brewery as the official beer garden in Ewell Plaza for First Fridays beginning May 3.
  • Alan Raught, manager at The Coffin Bar, expressed his deep gratitude on behalf of everyone on his team for the extraordinary level of support The Coffin Bar has received in the six months since the opening. He also wanted to let everyone know that The Coffin Bar will always be a fearless, safe space for all to gather.
  • Aaron Spangler, Communication Manager with YWCA Lancaster, shared they are gearing up for the 26^th running of the Race Against Racism on April 27. YWCA Lancaster hosts the biggest and longest consecutively run Race Against Racism in the nation! Proceeds from the Race benefit the Center for Racial and Gender Equity. Find details about the 2024 Race Against Racism here
  • Nichole Mussa Sabil, ASSETS Women’s Business Center Manager, told the group that they offer a Business Compliance and Insurance Workshop to help navigate the complex world of entity, tax, licensing, and insurance requirements across multiple states. The workshop is on Thursday, April 25, from 6 to 8:00 p.m. – find full details here.
  • Elizabeth Peters is super excited about her favorite day of the year – Indie Bookstore Day, on Saturday, April 27. She urges all to stop by Read Rose Books (23 N. Prince Street) and Pocket Books Shop (903 Wheatland Avenue) that day to celebrate…and be sure to come back regularly all year long
  • Victoria Abadir, founder of Lancaster Art Vault, was thrilled to announce a soft opening on May First Friday and during Spring Lancaster ARTWalk – May 3 through 5. There will be an outdoor artisans’ market, and under the eaves will be home to several of the Music for Everyone pianos. Don’t miss this exciting event.
  • Leilani Richards, Business Development at RegenAll, encouraged everyone to attend the 2024 Climate Summit on Saturday, April 27, at The Ware Center. Learn more here.
  • Jesus Rodriguez with Three Legacies Wrestling announced their event, “A New Dawn,” will return to Pucillo Gym at Millersville University on Saturday, April 27. Find all the details here.
  • Carol Gifford with Vision Corps announced that Eye Drop 2024 will occur on  Friday, June 7, at the Holiday Inn Lancaster.
    Join the Rappel from the roof for a great cause. Sign up today!
  • Julie Ross of Pocket Books Shop will have special events all day on Saturday, April 27, to celebrate Independent Book Store Day. Make sure to stop by 903 Wheatland Avenue to join in the celebration.
  • Robin Sarratt, Vice-president of LancasterHistory, invited everyone to attend an extraordinary event that will be held at The Ware Center on Tuesday, April 30, from 5 until 7:00 p.m. LancasterHistory is honored to host New York Times bestselling author Ilyon Woo for an illuminating evening to discuss her latest work, Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom. The author’s talk and book signing will take place in Steinman Hall. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the talk begins at 5:30 p.m. Register here
  • Cara Walker of Fig Lancaster told the group that if you own a small business in Lancaster City and have a cool new idea or plan for growth, you should apply for a Fig Tree grant! The Fig Tree is a Donor-Advised Fund that will award grants to small business owners so that new ideas can take root and grow. Grant applications are open through May 1, and grants will be awarded in the Fall of 2024. Find more details here.
  • Brianna Sienkiewicz, owner of AnnAnnas Creative Cove, has plans for Spring Lancaster ARTWalk, including a Spring Art Market on Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Two days of artists, makers, and more! Pop-up vendors will be set up outside AnnAnna Creative Cove, and 45+ vendors will be inside!
  • Megan Fessler-McCarthy with Tread House shared that they offer community partnerships and will work with your staff to provide fitness classes. They have a team registered to participate in the Race Against Racism.
  • Andrew Silvius with ESOArts is excited to be part of the 2024 Spring Lancaster ARTWalk. Over 70 artists will exhibit in their indoor Arts Market, with a special exhibit by Lancaster Artis Adam Serrano opening on May First Friday.
  • Jean-Marie Merkle will open her retail space at 157 E. King Street – opening day TBA!
  • Ashley Ludwig with James Street Med Spa (459 N. Prince Street) invited all to attend “Cocktails & Consults” on First Friday, May 3, from 5 to 7:00 p.m.!
  • Laura Luce-Wolgemuth from Penn Stone announced that they would be celebrating the 110^th Anniversary Milestone of Penn Stone on Thursday, May 2, at 190 W. Ross Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. All are welcome!

Kathlene Sullivan reminds all that the June Merchant Meeting has moved to Wednesday, June 12 due to the usual date falling on the Juneteenth Holiday. 

Closing Remarks

Marshall Snively thanked everyone for their attendance this morning and encouraged everyone to return for the May Merchant Meeting! 

Next Merchant Meeting – May 15, 2024 – The Ware Center