Published by: artie.see(at)gmail.com
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Adaptive Reuse: A Success Story
For nearly a century, Watt & Shand wasn't the only major department store in downtown Lancaster. Serious competition was located just over a half-block away. Hager's Department Store was established in 1821, 57 years before Watt & Shand. Although Hager's 25 W. King St. location was smaller than Watt & Shand's Penn Square complex, both were well-known for quality merchandise and friendly customer service.
In 1968, Watt & Shand purchased Hager's, and continued to operate it until 1977. By then, Watt & Shand's Park City store had become tremendously successful. Watt & Shand was purchased by the Bon-Ton in 1992, which really wanted only the highly profitable Park City site; the downtown store was closed in 1995.
The 1998 LDR International plan for downtown Lancaster called for the adaptive reuse of the Watt & Shand building. Shortly after the Penn Square Partners purchased the Watt & Shand building in 1998, Tom Smithgall of High Real Estate said at a public meeting that "What we're trying to create here is a mixed-use project that can house a variety of uses that will bring people into Lancaster to work, to play and to visit."
By then, the Hager building was already an adaptive reuse success story.
Initially turned into first floor shops with apartments above, the Hager building was converted into condominiums in the mid-1990s. Today, the shops in the Hager Arcade have become popular with residents and tourists alike; its location adjacent to the Central Market adds to its appeal. This writer often visits the Hager Arcade; following is a brief description of the shops located there.
Apron Strings has a split personality: it is both a gourmet shop and a bistro. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, bagels, and smoothies. On sale are an assortment of quality cooking supplies and accessories. This is an interesting place to get a quick bite to eat.
Festoon is the largest shop in the Hager Arcade, and it also has multiple personalities. Closest to King St. is an assortment of high-quality women's clothing, jewelry, and accessories. The rest of the store is dedicated to home décor, like dried and artificial floral arrangements, candles, and glassware. Be sure to visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when Festoon offers a wide variety of wonderful holiday decorations.
Britain's Best offers an amazing assortment of authentic British goods. Included are a wide variety of packaged foods, including tea, sauces, candy, and snacks. For a long time, Britain's Best was the only place to purchase HP sauce in Lancaster, which is mandatory with steaks for most people from Britain or Canada (and tastes better than the many domestic steak sauces). I'm partial to Nestle's chocolate, especially the Aero bars; European chocolate is smoother and richer than most American brands. Potato chips and other snacks sold here often have flavors that can be quite interesting.
Britain's Best also sells clothing, games, and household items.
Arabesque Dance & Fitness Wear offers exactly what its name implies: dance and exercise clothing, shoes, and accessories for all ages.
Chestnut House at first glance seems to be an art gallery instead of a store. There are often paintings by various artists on display here. A wide variety of attractive arts, crafts, and collectibles are offered for sale; these include home furnishings and decorative items in glass, metals, and ceramics. Also available is a selection of jewelry and accessories.
I find it difficult to adequately describe the many eye-catching and attractive items that are on display at Chestnut House. I highly recommend allowing some time to enjoy all that is offered here. Be sure to walk up the ramp to the left, and across the rear of the shop; don't forget to look up!
Peachy Green offers clothing, accessories, toys, stationery, and gifts based on natural and organic fibers. A great place to find items that are environmentally friendly.
Baubles & Beads sells jewelry and accessories with a focus on beads and gold. Available are necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other jewelry, as well as accessories. I would describe most of what is available here as eye-catching.
Red Rose Tasting Room offers a variety of wines made in Pennsylvania. In addition to the expected wine racks, there are quite a few bottles set up in a unique system to make taste samples easily available. If you are a wine connoisseur, or even just like a good bottle of wine now and then, a visit here will be time well spent.
Carr's Corner Grocery is a gourmet shop which offers a variety specialty breads, along with cheeses, sauces, oils, vinegars, teas, coffees, and other specialty boxed and canned goods and supplies.
The Hager building is proof that adaptive reuse can be successful in downtown Lancaster. If you've never visited the Hager Arcade, I highly recommend that you do.
In 1968, Watt & Shand purchased Hager's, and continued to operate it until 1977. By then, Watt & Shand's Park City store had become tremendously successful. Watt & Shand was purchased by the Bon-Ton in 1992, which really wanted only the highly profitable Park City site; the downtown store was closed in 1995.
The 1998 LDR International plan for downtown Lancaster called for the adaptive reuse of the Watt & Shand building. Shortly after the Penn Square Partners purchased the Watt & Shand building in 1998, Tom Smithgall of High Real Estate said at a public meeting that "What we're trying to create here is a mixed-use project that can house a variety of uses that will bring people into Lancaster to work, to play and to visit."
By then, the Hager building was already an adaptive reuse success story.
Initially turned into first floor shops with apartments above, the Hager building was converted into condominiums in the mid-1990s. Today, the shops in the Hager Arcade have become popular with residents and tourists alike; its location adjacent to the Central Market adds to its appeal. This writer often visits the Hager Arcade; following is a brief description of the shops located there.
Apron Strings has a split personality: it is both a gourmet shop and a bistro. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, bagels, and smoothies. On sale are an assortment of quality cooking supplies and accessories. This is an interesting place to get a quick bite to eat.
Festoon is the largest shop in the Hager Arcade, and it also has multiple personalities. Closest to King St. is an assortment of high-quality women's clothing, jewelry, and accessories. The rest of the store is dedicated to home décor, like dried and artificial floral arrangements, candles, and glassware. Be sure to visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas, when Festoon offers a wide variety of wonderful holiday decorations.
Britain's Best offers an amazing assortment of authentic British goods. Included are a wide variety of packaged foods, including tea, sauces, candy, and snacks. For a long time, Britain's Best was the only place to purchase HP sauce in Lancaster, which is mandatory with steaks for most people from Britain or Canada (and tastes better than the many domestic steak sauces). I'm partial to Nestle's chocolate, especially the Aero bars; European chocolate is smoother and richer than most American brands. Potato chips and other snacks sold here often have flavors that can be quite interesting.
Britain's Best also sells clothing, games, and household items.
Arabesque Dance & Fitness Wear offers exactly what its name implies: dance and exercise clothing, shoes, and accessories for all ages.
Chestnut House at first glance seems to be an art gallery instead of a store. There are often paintings by various artists on display here. A wide variety of attractive arts, crafts, and collectibles are offered for sale; these include home furnishings and decorative items in glass, metals, and ceramics. Also available is a selection of jewelry and accessories.
I find it difficult to adequately describe the many eye-catching and attractive items that are on display at Chestnut House. I highly recommend allowing some time to enjoy all that is offered here. Be sure to walk up the ramp to the left, and across the rear of the shop; don't forget to look up!
Peachy Green offers clothing, accessories, toys, stationery, and gifts based on natural and organic fibers. A great place to find items that are environmentally friendly.
Baubles & Beads sells jewelry and accessories with a focus on beads and gold. Available are necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other jewelry, as well as accessories. I would describe most of what is available here as eye-catching.
Red Rose Tasting Room offers a variety of wines made in Pennsylvania. In addition to the expected wine racks, there are quite a few bottles set up in a unique system to make taste samples easily available. If you are a wine connoisseur, or even just like a good bottle of wine now and then, a visit here will be time well spent.
Carr's Corner Grocery is a gourmet shop which offers a variety specialty breads, along with cheeses, sauces, oils, vinegars, teas, coffees, and other specialty boxed and canned goods and supplies.
The Hager building is proof that adaptive reuse can be successful in downtown Lancaster. If you've never visited the Hager Arcade, I highly recommend that you do.
