Street of Shops

Lewisburg is filled with hole-in-the-wall locales that give it a small town character. Whether it is a quiet spot to study that the larger community has yet to find, or a new restaurant that is outside of the public domain, there are plenty of locations that most of the student body and surrounding town do not know about. Few places, however, have as much to offer as Street of Shops.

Located in a renovated woolen mill, Street of Shops is an antique store with a twist. Unlike other antique stores, Street of Shops sections its antiques into 375  individual “shops.” Each small room has its own name and unique exterior. The whole mill is fashioned as an indoor town streetscape.

An authentic bank teller window, shoe shine stand, and mill scale are just a few of the genuine items that greet you as you enter “Main Street.” Vintage gas street lights give the main floor a charming glow, and park benches make the vast indoor warehouse fit right in with the rest of Lewisburg. A quaint diner, open seven days a week, allows visitors to unwind after exploring the maze before them.

The shops on the main floor feature art from local Pennsylvanian artisans. Tableware, paintings, quilts, and candles are just a few of the unique products sold at the Street of Shops. Directly below Main Street is a vast 45,000 square foot warehouse, offering shoppers the opportunity to purchase any pre-owned item one could think of.

Despite its vast size, this hidden gem is unbeknownst to much of the student body at the University; however, the store does have the occasional college student walk-in. Ethan Fisher ’19, a street of shops regular, describes it as, “the most unique place Lewisburg has to offer. The store is essentially a giant time capsule filled with old records, antique furniture, and vintage home decor. Walking through the different shops makes it feel like you’re passing through a small town. If I had a nickel for the number of hours I’ve spent in there…”

Another student, Emilee Bae ’18 explains that she likes Street of Shops because, “there’s so much to look at. You can walk around down there for ages looking at weird stuff. Also, the diner is my favorite place to get eggs benedict on Sundays.”

One of the most unique parts about Street of Shops is the mix between classic antique shopping and the brunch spot every University student associates with the Sunday before the week begins. Here, students can get the best of both worlds.

Shikellemy State Park

Sprawling across the geographic county lines of Union and Northumberland Counties, Shikellemy State Park is a 132-acre Pennsylvania state park. The park is divided into two sections: the overlook and the marina. The park facilities on the Shikellemy overlook opened in 1960, and the marina was dedicated in 1972.

The 78-acre overlook offers visitors with views of a multitude of branches of the Susquehanna River from 360-foot cliffs. The 54-acre marina is located on the southern tip of Packers Island, just where the West Branch and North Branch of the Susquehanna River meet. The marina offers visitors hiking and biking trails, as well as a boat launch.

The name Shikellemy originates from the famous Iroquois Chief Shikellamy. Chief Shikellamy played a large role in the development of the Pennsylvania frontier in the 18th century, and was an ally to both the colonists and indigenous Americans. Chief Shikellemy’s village was located near where what is today the overlook of the park.

“It is a place that caught me off guard. I was there by myself on a really rainy day, and after exploring through the woods I got to this dock, which is by the edge of the water. There, you see the mountain, river and little cars on the highway all in one picture. It is like a painting, and so peaceful.” Alex Gao ’19 said.

The park is open to guests every day of the year, sunrise to sunset.

“I like it because you can see the whole town of Sunbury. It’s a great place to catch rays of sunshine, go on a date, to picnic, hang a hammock, or just a great place to relax that feels like it’s far from campus but a brisk drive away” Jonathan Li ’19 said.

Catherman’s Homemade Candy

Most University students can name their favorite downtown spot to relax at after a day of classes, but few students have visited Catherman’s Homemade Candy. This family-owned bakery crafts homemade candies, cakes, and pastries each day. They pride themselves on their commitment to using high quality ingredients from the Lewisburg community, for the Lewisburg community.

Catherman’s Homemade Candy has been open since the 1940s.  The Cathermans are a familiar name to many Lewisburg residents, as they also own a hair salon on Market Street frequented by many University students. What can’t they do? In 2006, Robert and Brenda Engle purchased the shop and added new dimensions by opening the store as a bakery. Robert Engle is a fantastic pastry chef from the Four Seasons in Philadelphia, and has revamped the already homey feel of Catherman’s.

Their cream puffs and eclairs added a new level of tastiness to the candy store’s catalog of scrumptious sweets. Engle’s professional flair helps to modernize the mom and pop shop.

The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The second you walked into the shop you could literally smell all the delicious pastries and candies. It has the cutest vibe and the people who work there are very friendly and welcoming” Kotono Hamaguchi ’19 said.