Last Thursday I had the privilege of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the Lancaster County Convention Center and Marriott at Penn Square. There, I was able to see the gorgeous outcome of so many people’s hard work. I was seriously in awe of its interior and the designers’ ability to make such a large and open space still feel so warm and inviting. Conversing in circles of people representing numerous businesses and organizations throughout Lancaster, I found myself a bit distracted by the beauty of the building in which I was standing. Everything from the vibrant carpets to the bold pieces of wall art caught my attention without being too much. That is the kind of sophistication I can appreciate… beauty and professionalism without excess. Simply put, it was sharp.

I think the Convention Center helps to brings back what Penn Square was years ago. Within the historical façade of what used to be Watt & Shand, I can only think of my Nana who used to shop there all the time in her youth. She told me how everyone would be downtown at the square. It was simply the place to be. My mom remembers going there with her grandma, where she would buy the infamous decorative hats for which she was known at church. While times have changed and the Convention Center is certainly not a top-of-the-line department store, it allows for a thriving area of commerce, meetings and culture… for a huge venue that enables us to share Downtown Lancaster and the surrounding county with others. Right down the street from Steinman Park, Annie Bailey’s, Prince Street, Central Market and many more of my favorite spots, I’m excited for what it will bring to the area. Its beauty, character, and history fit right into the Lancaster I love.