News

Hot sales during IceFest for downtown businesses

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Despite some drizzle and temperatures above freezing, sales were brisk for downtown businesses during Chambersburg’s 18th annual IceFest.

Held Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, the event meant to combat the mid-winter blahs featured ice sculptures, a dance, chili cook-off, glass-blowing demonstrations, cake-decorating contest, ice slide and Run Your Ice Off 5K. The activities brought plenty of people downtown to shop in the eclectic mix of businesses there.

I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of traffic the store had, especially Saturday. Sales were definitely up,” said Kendra Matusiak, who opened REmix Design in July 2019 at 107 N. Main St.

Ice Fest fell on a weekend that she typically is not open, but she opted to join in the festivities so the public could browse through her merchandise, including stones and crystals, plants and furniture. Her sales receipts showed it was worth the effort.

“Most people who came in were buying plants and crystals,” Matusiak said. “I also had lots of furniture sales, which surprised me. I thought new shoppers would be buying smaller items.”

She guessed that about half of the people who came in the store over the three days she was open were visiting for the first time.

”It was so energizing seeing the town filled with activity,” Matusiak said. “With all the new businesses in town, and more people visiting, I foresee full sidewalks as a new normal for downtown Chambersburg.”

Jennifer and Tom Davis have experienced seven IceFests at The Garage Studios, three at its current 102 S. Main St. location.

​“As the event grows, traffic has grown considerably,” Jennifer Davis said. “We are so blessed to have some amazing events in our downtown that support the growth of business and enhance the beauty of our small town.”

Photo Credit: MrPhab Photos. Caption: Joe DiMartino poses for a picture while cutting a giant ice sculpture.

Davis said sales are always up during special activities like IceFest, where top sellers are glass icicles and ornaments. Tom leads glass-blowing classes as part of the studio’s unique offerings, which also include Jennifer’s jewelry studio, art, vintage items and treasures sold by friend Mark Miller, who owns Gypsie.

“The traffic from this weekend is mind-boggling as a small-business owner,” said Jennifer, adding that help from Miller and their daughters, AimeeBeth and Maggie, is crucial to their success. “We get amazing exposure, and that is something that brings people back. We also provide music and Tom blows glass the whole weekend, starting on Thursday. By Sunday, we are exhausted in a beautiful way.”

Scott Vorhees has seen business pick up at Bistro 71 during the last five IceFests. The owner and operator of the eatery at 71 N. Main St. said it has a loyal customer base, so, other than the businesses who rent the second-floor space for parties during the event, they don’t see a lot of new faces, just more at the same time.

Vorhees, whose business partner is his brother, Nick Broadwater, appreciates how IceFest boosts local business.

“Any reason to come downtown is a good one,” he said.

Photo Credit: MrPhab Photos. Caption: Todd Shearer, M&T Bank and Penny Shaul, IceFest Committee Chair at IceFest 2020 Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, January 30th.

Penny Shaul, chairwoman of the IceFest Committee for at least the last eight years, said organizers aim to keep things fresh to give people more reasons to come to Chambersburg.

“We really strive to bring new events and more sculptures to IceFest,” Shaul said.

“There’s a lot of things for different types of people to see,” many of which are free.

DiMartino Ice Co. of Jeannette, Pa., carved were more than 70 ice sculptures of varying sizes and shapes for this year’s event. New to IceFest was a cornhole tournament, which was meant to be outdoors, but was moved indoors to the second floor of Main Street Deli because of inclement weather. Some of the proceeds from the competition benefited the Redneck Outlaws, a local organization that helps cancer patients and their families. The other beneficiaries were Council for the Arts, the Downtown Business Council and Downtown Chambersburg Inc., for whom the festival as a whole raises funds.

Photo Credit: MrPhab Photos. Caption: Streetscape scene at IceFestPA 2020

Downtown Chambersburg Inc. President Sam Thrush said the cornhole organizers were pleased by the turnout for the inaugural cornhole competition – 15 teams of two people each – and plan for it to return next year.

As owner of Here’s Looking at You, a women’s clothing store at 123 S. Main St., Shaul said she reaps the rewards of the crowds at IceFest months after the sculptures have melted. January is typically her slowest month, when such an event is most needed.

While it is difficult to count attendance, the four-day extravagance was thought to estimated to be well over 12,000 people strolling downtown Chambersburg.

“It’s great to have that many people walk past your door,” Shaul said.

It’s common for women to stop by in late winter or early spring, telling her they saw her business during IceFest, but they were with their children and/or husbands, or they had on too many layers and didn’t want to shed them to try on clothes.

Organizers expanded the marketing area outside Chambersburg because the festival features activities that attract varied audiences. The borough already has plenty of history, restaurants, art galleries, shops and hotels to offer, so big events are the icing on the cake.

“I think it kind of helps give people a reason to come to Chambersburg,” Shaul said.

The presenting sponsor for this year’s IceFest was M&T Bank.

Complete list of LED lighting & ice sponsors:

2020 LED LIGHTING SPONSOR:

Franklin County Visitors Bureau

​

​2020 GIANT SCULPTURE SPONSORS:

Borough of Chambersburg

CADC/FCADC

David H. Martin Excavating Inc.

DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger, PC

F&M Trust

JLG Industries, Inc.

Manitowoc Cranes

Patriot Federal Credit Union

SpiriTrust Lutheran 

The Athlete’s Edge

Volvo Construction Equipment

WellSpan Health

2020 SINGLE BLOCK SCULPTURE SPONSORS:​

11/30 Visitors Center

AA Bail Bonds

Abel Castro-State Farm 

ACNB Bank

AE Bounce House

Art Sign Company of Chambersburg

Barra Orthodontics

Bartlett Tree Experts

BCM Payroll Services, Inc./Korey Paff State Farm Agent

Bear Hugs from Lisa

Bistro 71/Norland Pub/Norland Grille

Boost Mobile by CPA Wireless

Boyer & Ritter LLC

Bridget’s Beach House LLC Myrtle Beach

Central Presbyterian Church 

Chambersburg Animal Hospital

Chambersburg Noontime Lions Club

Chambersburg SuperTechs

Chambersburg Waste Paper Company

Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post 1599

Cline Collision Repair

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

CCU Corning Credit Union

Country Inn & Suites

Cumberland Valley Tree Service-Landscaping

Dennis E. Black Engineering, Inc.

Dental Solutions of Chambersburg

Edward Jones, Cindy Wolf, Rod Salter, John Reinert

Flamingo Family Restaurant, LLC

Frank B. Lesher Company

Franklin County Cyclists

Franklin County Free Press

Gabler Trucking, Inc.

Gardens by Grace/Here’s Looking at You

Goldfish Barn Events Center

Hoskinson Wenger & Rife Law Offices / Shoap Law Offices

i360 Property Management

J&B Bridals & Tuxedos

Johnston’s Heating & Cooling,LLC (4)

Kegerreis Outdoor Advertising

Kristian F. Frank CFP Merrill Lynch

Lady Moon Farms

Laurel Life

Lehman’s Carpet Cleaning & Flooring Sales

Lobar, Inc.

Ludwigs Jewelers

Lyons and Company 

M&T Bank (2)

Main Street Tax Service

Mann Plumbing & Heating

Martin & Martin Inc./Plummer Engineering

Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls and Bread

McCalmont Burial Vault Co.

McCleary Heating & Cooling LLC

McCleary Oil Co.

Menno Haven Retirement Community

Merle Norman Cosmetics/Here’s Looking at You

Montezuma Mexican Restaurant

​Mr. Phab Photos

Nitterhouse Masonry Hardware & Supply

Noelker and Hull Associates, Inc.

Northwood Books

Olympia Candy Kitchen

Pediatric Therapy Specialists of SCPA, LLC

Person Directed Supports, Inc (2)

Printaway/LA Cameras

R.A. Hill Inc.

Ralph E. Tolbert Masonry

RE/MAX Realty Agency

Rotary Club of Chambersburg

Salzmann Hughes P.C.

SEK CPAs & Advisors

Shalom Christian Academy

Shippensburg University

Snavelys Garden Corner

Southgate Shopping Center/Paran Management Company Ltd.

Stouffer Mechanical Contractor LLC (3)

Stouffers Auto Repair LLC

Strickler Agency, Inc.

The Barrows Sollenberger Group, PC/Barrows Trostle Advisors, LLC

The Gift Enclosure/Another Man’s Treasure

The Pineapple Group

United Automotive Service Center

Valley Agency Company

Vinnie’s on 11

Wenger & Myers Insurance

William F. Sellers Funeral Home

Wilson College (2)

For more information about Downtown Chambersburg Inc, go to www.downtownchambersburgpa.com or call 717-264-7101. To learn about sponsorships for 2021 Ice Fest, email [email protected]

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