Oct 16, 201208:39 AMDaily News
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The quiet charm of E-town
I had no idea what to expect on my recent trip to Elizabethtown.
I knew the town includes the college and I knew it was home to an M&M/Mars factory and, while doing research, I also read a lot about the Masonic Village.
I began my trip by heading toward the college. I really liked the feel of the brick buildings the trees all around.
After swinging by the school, I headed for town and parked and walked to the main square at the intersection of High and Market streets.
First up was Pages Bookstore, a small used books shop in the northeast corner of the square. Pages buys and sells gently-used books, CDs and DVDs.
The owner recommended I stop by the Folklore Coffee & Company next door.
Folklore was relatively busy when I visited. I’m not a coffee drinker, but they have a variety of beverage options, and they offer a story time for kids.
I crossed the street and walked past a bakery to the southeast corner of the square. There, I was greeted by Spiderman in the window of Sequential Arts Too—a small comic book shop. Next door is Game Traders Club, a video game store that let’s customers buy, sell and trade games. Although I play video games a lot less frequently than when I was young, I love places like this with my favorite characters like Donkey Kong on the window.
Across the street to the southwest is Barry’s Train Shop. The store was bigger than it looked with old wooden floors. In the middle is a big display with multiple trains, tracks, hills, trees and other essentials.
I spoke with one of the employees and she told me the store used to be a hardware store (hence the beaten, wooden floors). She told me a lot has changed downtown through the years, and a deli and another hardware store in the square are just two of the various shops that are long gone.
After leaving Barry’s, I walked past Andrew Doublas Jewelers and The Bridal Emporium.
I stopped in at Flowers in the Kitchen, a storefront with big, old wooden pastel-painted doors that open to a restaurant with very colorful décor.
I spoke with the waitress who told me they’ve been in Elizabethtown 17 years and boast an outdoor patio area and seasonal menus. Fall specialties include plum and apple dishes.
Overall, it’s a sandwich and salad place and the patio—which is out back tucked between buildings—is quiet and hidden from the bustle of the town.
I walked back to my car, passing by the library, which is very big and modern with a huge clock on the outside. Unlike the libraries of Annville and Mount Holly Springs, this one is more modern.
One thing I noticed that makes downtown Elizabethtown unique is the tables and benches on the square—a great place for families to enjoy a brief afternoon. They can shop for books, video games or trains, browse the library or check out the thrift store near the library, then grab a coffee or hot chocolate and snack from Folklore and relax on the square.
My suggestion to the powers that be in Elizabethtown: put a little heat on the M&M/Mars factory. Encourage them to open a shop and/or offer factory tours. That would be a sweet addition to the area!
Kurt Bopp is assistant editor/web at Central Penn Parent. Next week Kurt will chronicle his journey to Hanover.
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