CHAMBERSBURG – A half dozen new businesses have joined Chambersburg’s vibrant downtown, offering new services, shopping and food to complement existing, popular establishments, some of which have been in town for more than 100 years.
New businesses include Cheerful Flowers and Gifts, 85 N. Main St.; Lotus Bowls & Juicery, 83 S. Main St.; Bonfield Collective, 31 S. Main St.; Sorangel Hair & Beauty Salon, 37 S. Main St., Suite 100; Rasna Eyebrow Threading & Waxing Center, 37 S. Main St., Suite 102; and Milk Bath, 115A S. Main St.
Floral designer Kelly Perry opened Cheerful Flowers and Gifts, which has been providing colorful bouquets for homes and businesses during the coldest, darkest days this winter.
“We’re creating a gateway for our community to experience beauty in a fresh way and helping them create deeper connections with their friends and family by sharing beauty,” said Perry, a Chambersburg native.
Perry leads an organization that links florists across the country with educational materials and an annual conference. She enjoys highlighting flowers that most people have never seen before.
Lotus Bowls offered acai bowls, smoothie bowls and cold-pressed juice at North Square Farmers Market and special events before opening in a brick-and-mortar location last October. Bonfield Collective opened in late January to offer its home décor and interior design services during Chambersburg’s annual IceFest.
Sorangel Hair & Beauty Salon and Rasna Eyebrow Threading & Waxing Center are neighboring businesses that can address a host of beauty and wellness needs. Rachana Rimal, proprietor of Rasna, grew up in Nepal and became interested in beauty treatments at a young age, when she would practice on female family members. She saw a need for additional salons in the town where she now lives.
“I thought Chambersburg would be a great place to start,” she said of her business, which offers eyebrow threading, eyebrow elimination, body waxing and facials.
Samantha Ecke from Milk Bath held a grand-opening celebration in mid-December. She calls it a “one-stop shop” for not only lotions and soaps she makes from goats’ milk, but also artisan-made jewelry, pottery, baby clothes and dog treats. Locally made products with natural ingredients are the foundation of Milk Bath.
Ecke did a market analysis for several communities before concluding Chambersburg was a central point for her customer base. She is thrilled with the businesses throughout town.
“We’re getting a lot of new, trendy stores,” she said.
The new businesses are great additions to downtown, which always has something for everyone, according to Sam Thrush, president of Downtown Chambersburg Inc.
“We really are a family of small businesses in this community. Our retail stores, professional services, restaurants, breweries, galleries and houses of worship are the unmatched in this region,” Thrush said.
