Small Business Shopping Suggestions!
This list took on a life of its own and was taking over the Thanksgiving show notes. So I broke it out here, as it continues to grow, and I continue to update it. Enjoy, and SHOP LOCAL!!
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IN CENTRAL PA SUGGESTIONS!! I broke these up into rough regions, and yes, I just made the names of those regions up. It’s not an exhaustive list, obviously; feel free to send in your additional suggestions!
First: DON’T FORGET THE DRINKS! As I like to remind you every year, your local brewery, distillery, winery, cidery, and meadery, your local bartenders and taverns…they’re all small businesses too! Even big operations like Tröegs and New Trail and Straub are independent businesses that are always in the sights of huge corporate producers, and your support is crucial. Remember what we said in Episode 55: “If you want your favorite places to be there, you need to financially support them.” Show your love for small, skilled, innovative producers by supporting them in extra-special ways during the holidays! Buy bottles for friends and for yourself, spruce up your holiday party with small-town booze, take your officemates out for a drink after work to celebrate another year! Hey, even Seen Through A Glass has an office party, and it’s always a small-town, small business-supplied event! You know who these people are (I certainly talk about them enough); don’t forget them!
PENNS VALLEY and over the ridges
Millheim: The Portal, eclectic antiques and crafts
Aaronsburg: Aaronsburg Pottery (It's the last month for this long-time craftsman! Make an appointment to get these excellent pieces); Olde Village Mercantile has a wide variety of local products, gifts, and crafts.
Centre Hall: The Beaten Path, vintage furniture, jewelry, decor
Rebersburg: Forefathers Bookstore, specializing in history and biography
Mifflinburg: Stamm House has toys and Santa/Krampus/Belschnickel figures; the Christkindl Market is coming December 11-13!
Lewisburg: Purity Candy, excellent chocolates, and a STAG guest! Mondragon Books, used and new books; Paris Bakery and Cafe, wonderful fine pastries; Artists and Artisans is a co-op gallery of local and regional artists; the Roller Mills is a large antiques mall with tons to see; the Street of Shops along the river is a fun stroll for shopping.
BRUSH MOUNTAIN AND LOGAN VALLEY (We could use more suggestions here!)
Altoona: Wildfire, an “eco-friendly boutique”; The Clay Cup, ceramics and fun; LaJoe's and Alto Market for great Italian food items; the Boyer Candy factory store has all the Mallow Cup apparel you could wish, and, you know… Mallow Cups and all that.
Hollidaysburg: Lightning Bug Gifts, lots of very local apparel and jewelry
Tyrone: The Brew Coffee & Tap, great coffee and beer and gifts, including Warriors Mark Candles. Gardner's Candy and ice cream shop!
THE NORTHERN EXPANSE
Wellsboro: Hillstone Farms Shop, a variety of products from local farms and wineries/cideries.
Mansfield: Route 6 Country Shoppes, a wide variety of vendors with some excellent stuff; Ten West Espresso, a coffee/bake shop that also has a wide variety of vintage goods.
Phillipsburg: Thieves Market and Country Peddler, vintage goods and furniture.
Karthaus: Village Eatinghouse Sauce Kitchen was a podcast guest, and their delicious stuff is worth the beautiful drive through the woods to the far north corner of Centre County!
CAPITAL/CUMBERLAND (I’d be happy for more suggestions here…)
Carlisle: Central Wedge, a beautiful and delicious assortment of cheeses!
Boiling Springs: Village Artisans Gallery, a surprisingly diverse offering from over 200 artists, worth the drive.
Mechanicsburg: Lounge 611, smoking and men's grooming accessories; Callicutts Spice Co., a women-owned spice and spice blend store (with hot cocoa mixes too!); Glitz Soap Co. has handmade soaps in dazzling colors and delightful scents.
Harrisburg: Millworks, a brewpub and market, get to their special sale, The Odd Ones on November 29th 11-5
New Cumberland: Moss Creek Art, truly unique jewelry and furniture, gorgeous high-end stuff.
SOUTH CENTRAL
Huntingdon: Rothrock Outfitters is celebrating 25 years of great outdoor gear; the Huntingdon County Arts Council holiday shop is open 7 days a week, through 12/29; Standing Stone Coffee has fresh-roasted beans and a Pennsylvania shop of all kinds of other local goods; and order a holiday pie to go at Boxer’s Cafe!
Bedford: LIFeSTYLE is an Italian trattoria with luscious foodie gifts; Good To B Home has an array of home decor gifts; Rec·la·ma·tion is a combo of consignment and local crafts, great for browsing; the Backstage Alpaca Shop has everything alpaca: clothes, socks, toys, blankets, yarn…; Bedford Candies for chocolates, fudge, popcorns, (and ice cream while you shop!); Juli's Wearable Art has clothes, jewelry, accessories, handbags!
Burnham: Small Town Sparrow has a truly eclectic collection of local crafts: knitting, herbal teas and ‘apothecaries,’ handmade cards, candles, women’s clothing…and they have an open house on Small Business Saturday, from 10-3!
Lewistown: Butternut Barn is stuffed full of antiques and vintage decor items, new things, locally-made items, and looks like someone’s beloved home decorated for the holidays; Crooked Shelf Bookshop is a sweet little independent bookseller (with a bunch of puzzles and games, too); two antiques shops in downtown, The Dragonfly and Lost Art Studio and Vintage, have plenty to engage your nostalgic bug, plus new art at the studio;
Newport: Wow, I really just took a look at Newport for the first time today, and we are definitely doing a town profile on this river town! For shopping: Penn Avenue Trading Company is a serious antique shop, with a knowledgeable owner, chockful of stuff; PCCA Gallery showcases over 100 local artist who work in various media (some real bargains, too); Honey In The Hollow is just across the river, a bee farm with honey, raw and processed, candles, beeswax, and balms; Base Camp Outfitters has all that hunting angling stuff you need; Primitive Pastimes has a ton of knickknacks, doo-dads, and tchotchkes (some trinkets, too!). And if you need a good beer, or a great Italian meal, stop by to see my friends at Mastracchio’s Restaurant & Lounge (an OG Beer Bar interview I plan to get!).
Shermans Dale: Confession: I didn’t know Shermans Dale existed until today when we drove through it on our way to Mechanicsburg. But I did spot Willow & Wildfire on the way in and checked them out, beautiful gift and decor shop, and we’ll be back!
STATE COLLEGE AND SURROUNDINGS
Pine Grove Mills: Centre Markets is opening in Pine Grove Mills, better check for hours (should be opening the week before Thanksgiving!).
Bellefonte: This is the place for antique and vintage shopping: The Great Mish Mosh and The Plaza Centre both offer multiple floors of a wide variety of items, including some gorgeous furniture; Belle Mercantile has a great selection of gifts for a wide variety of occasions; Titan Market is another market venue with everything from vintage vinyl to pickles. Smith + Front has an eclectic assortment of gift items; Helen Foxx & Co. has a sharp offering of women's clothing for discriminating tastes.
State College: Barrel 21 and Otto's because booze is a gift too!; Way Fruit Farm’s main store is in Stormstown, but you can get the same fruit and gifts at their downtown store, The Nittany Quill offers custom calligraphy and notepapers; Webster's Bookstore Cafe is a comfy ideal of a bookstore where you can curl up with a coffee; while Squirrel and Acorn offers their own collection and selection of books; Kitchen Kaboodle is the place to go for that one more gadget your kitchen must have; Growing Tree Toys is the place to find toys that kids will love (that you’ll love to give); Appalachian Outdoors has toys for bigger kids; Freeze Thaw Cycles and The Bicycle Shop will put you or your loved ones on wheels with all the gear you need; and Wiscoy for Animals has plenty of treats and toys for your furry, finned, feathered friends. Just outside of town, you’ll find places like the famous Tait Farm with homemade shrubs and chutneys and such, and Christmas trees, too!; Boal City Brewing has their great beers, and cool socks; and I’m breaking my “local only” rule for Chocolates by Leopold because of their Buttercrunch candy; A Basket Full has a tasteful selection of women’s clothing and accessories, and a tasty selection of local foodstuffs and kitchen notions. Not far away in Lemont is The Gallery Shop and the Art Alliance, which is just what it sounds like. Arcadian Consignment is a favorite vintage store out Benner Pike with a bit of everything.
ALONG THE WESTERN BRANCH
Williamsport: The Otto Bookstore, one of America's oldest indie bookstores; Alabaster Coffee & Tea, a great assortment of both; Le Chocolat, and Lang's Chocolate for your sweet teeth; Gustonian Gifts has abroad array of local and international crafts, plus walking sticks!; Patinaz has custom jewelry, clothes, candles, and pottery; Avu Goldsmiths has beautiful custom jewelry and other gifts.
Montoursville: Griggs Coffee & Peanuts has all that plus fresh-made nut butters; The Robin's Nest started as an antique store and expanded into local crafts and gifts.
Lock Haven: It Is What It Is, extremely eclectic gifts and candy and wine and soap and...; Shoop's Charcuterie, and Leo's Deli for great holiday party foods and gifts.
Clearfield: Revived & Company, a mall of various cool vendors in an old school.