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Palmyra business building momentum
Listen to this article“People don’t feel like they are in the shadows of Hershey, but more are trying to stand out,” said Maria Altebrando, who recently opened the Palmyra Academy of Dance in the 600 block of West Main Street.
Altebrando moved to the area seven years ago from Long Island, N.Y. She said dance has always been a passion and opening a studio the dream.
There was no question about fulfilling that dream in her Lebanon County hometown.
“Palmyra is a diamond in the rough,” she said, adding that she fell in love with the tight-knit community and overall quality of life. “There are smart people who love this town and want to see it at its full potential.”
Altebrando said she has taken notice of the steady population growth in the county. She doesn’t appear to be alone there. Business activity is on the upswing, according to the Palmyra Area Business Association.
“People are sick of waiting on the economy and (are) taking things into their own hands,” said Margie Yohn, president of PABA and owner of BeYohnd Mail & Marketing.
Yohn, who also is on the board at the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, said Palmyra’s proximity to Dauphin and Lancaster counties helps, along with the busy Route 422 corridor.
There are plans for a CVS pharmacy in the 700 block of East Main Street and a new Sheetz in the 800 block.
The Palmyra area recently attracted Farmers Insurance. It also is now home to Babe’s Grill House & Sports Lounge, an upscale sports bar that opened in August in the 300 block of East Main Street.
Meanwhile, Funck’s Family Restaurant, an established casual eatery, is in the process of adding a liquor license.
