Here's The Scoop / October 2012 / Lemoyne: A little town that has it all

Oct 29, 201210:54 AMDaily News

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Lemoyne: A little town that has it all

Although it’s small and you could easily pass it by without noticing, Lemoyne is a small town that’s worth a visit.

As I drove around town, I noticed there isn’t any real “downtown” area, just various shopping centers and stores lining Market Street, so I wasn’t able to simply walk around like most of my visits to other towns.

I followed signs that said “antiques” and ended up at Antique Marketplace of Lemoyne, 3 Bosler Ave. There was no wasted space in this huge place, as more than 100 vendors fill their stands with their ancient treasures.

Despite being stuffed with a variety of items, I didn’t feel crowded and was able to stroll along easily checking out the merchandise. One of the coolest items I saw was a collection of old presidential campaign buttons. There were some as old as the Eisenhower administration and as new as McCain-Palin. It was a really cool piece of political history.

I also found items from World War II and older, as well as statues, clocks, clothes, wigs, coins, pictures, figurines, comic books and so much more.

After perusing the displays and vendors, I headed to the West Shore Farmers Market, 900 Market St. I had heard about this place from various people and love farmers markets, so I was excited to check it out.

Unfortunately, it was closed when I visited (the downstairs market is open only Tuesday, Friday and Saturday), so I definitely will return.

My next stop was Village Thrift & Consignment, 435 Market St, which drew me in with the TVs and other furniture lined up outside. It offered more items for children than the Antique Marketplace, but had a similar, yet smaller, feel. There was various sports equipment and merchandise, including a framed Harrisburg Senators jersey, and clothes and costumes for all ages. I also found furniture and a small section full of Christmas décor.

I moved on to the eastern end of Market where sidewalks and shops provide a nice little area for families to walk around. I found Dippin’ Dairy Hershey’s Ice Cream, 324 Market St. and the new children’s boutique, Snazzy Giraffe.

Snazzy Giraffe features clothes for babies through toddlers and has some games and puzzles for kids as old as 6 or 7. Among the brands are Cache Cache and Capital K. The store also boasts organic clothing. Owner Michelle Jacobs—who has five grandchildren—always wanted her own boutique and has been working on this for a few years. “There’s really not a lot in the area (for high-quality) children’s clothes,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to get some unique items in the area.”

There’s also a judo center above Snazzy Giraffe and a music store across the street, which both offer key destinations for many families.

The street lamps in Lemoyne hold signs that say “Lemoyne: The little town that has it all!” Although it doesn’t really have a walking-friendly downtown, its little motto is a good summary of what I found—multiple grocery stores, restaurants, barbers and any other thing people need are right on the main strip, plus a few hidden treasures just around the corner.

Kurt Bopp is assistant editor/web at Central Penn Parent. His next town tour will be to Lemoyne’s neighbor, New Cumberland.