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An essential ingredient in city livability for all people is conveniently available, good quality, modestly-priced, fresh and local foods, within walking distance. Expressly Local Food is open every day, weekdays and weekends, throughout the year, at 213 West King Street, Lancaster, PA. You can get in touch at: expresslylocal@gmail.com – or call them at 717-295-1850.
It’s a bit surprising to realize that this new grocery store in downtown Lancaster is the only fresh and local, downtown grocery store in all of Lancaster County. The city of Lancaster (pop. 56,000) also has the year-round historic “Central Market” and the seasonal and winter-market at the historic “Eastern Market.” A few surrounding towns have small, weekly farmers’ markets, in season. And, fortunately, many residents with cars can find roadside and farm stands across the region during the growing season. But everywhere else in Lancaster County –a metro-region of more than one-half million people with numerous historic and attractive smaller downtowns and villages — residents must go to suburban supermarkets to buy most of their food.
The grocers of Expressly Local Food and the developer/architect Community Heritage Partners have brought the best-quality foods and other agricultural products direct from the finest farmland on the planet — Lancaster County — to the heart of historic downtown Lancaster ! (We’re all kind of excited about it.)
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And, building even more community synergy–Expressly Local Food is a proud Partner of Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local! (Thank you, ladies…)
When you go to ELF, be sure to notice the map of the County that shows all the farms that supply the store.
And when you watch the video, look for Barry Mahaffy (in the scene with Rep. Sturla and Gene Aleci) and Deborah Linder, representing LBFBL.
We love you, ELF and CHP!
Posted by Linda Aleci on February 9, 2010 at 12:36 pm | Permalink
Love the Store, CHP, and in particular their very unique way of providing Alaskan Salmon to Lancaster County!
The investment you have made in local, community-based business is part of the once silent, but now growing, revolution in the return to humanely scaled agriculture and commercial exchange.
Beyond the debate over issues related to climate change, these developments reflect an increasing awareness among many in our culture that there is an inherent need in human nature for intimacy in all facets of our lives.
Locally-owned enterprises, small-scale farming, and mixed-use neighborhoods are finding their way back into the mainstream!
Keep it up ELF and CHP!
Posted by John Blowers on February 10, 2010 at 9:29 am | Permalink
Thanks, John —
You’ve placed us well in the context of what I believe is the future of American quality of life: community-based, human-scaled, sustainable agriculture, locally-oriented manufacturing and commerce. IF we can promote enlightened leadership that supports these values, then this urban-rural combination will help rebuild each community’s local economy and sense of place. We’re all working on that common project, (but we need leadership to keep us clear about the big picture)…using fewer resources, living with conscious concern for the land, protecting our sense of place, all with the over-arching goal of improving everyone’s shared quality of life.
Posted by Gene on February 10, 2010 at 11:18 am | Permalink
Extraordinary!
Posted by Danny Whittle on February 10, 2010 at 11:19 am | Permalink
Hi, Cheryl, congratulations! We had a chance to see your store from so far away. But the problems are the same, in many historic towns in Italy you will not find a grocery shop downtown. And your store is also very beautiful!
Posted by Andrzej on February 15, 2010 at 1:36 pm | Permalink
Just when I thought Lancaster could not get cooler with all the downtown revitalization, Expressly Local comes along and puts a cherry on top of the cool! Way to go guys. Good luck and keep it local!
Posted by Mark Fischer on February 15, 2010 at 2:33 pm | Permalink
A great store carrying all of our locally produced hemp food products - Hempzel Pretzels & Horseradish Honey Mustard, Whole Hemp Seed, Nut-Less Butter & Jam & Organic Granola bars with hemp & flax, thanks ladies. Go see them today for fresh foods!
Posted by Shawn House on February 17, 2010 at 7:07 am | Permalink
Foods of all sorts from our nearby rural periphery are now available daily at the urban center of our region. Farmland, farming, food production, city living, commerce, community, and architectural preservation are all re-connected through Expressly Local Food and our downtown development efforts. The rest of the revitalization and renewed quality of life “puzzle” can be supplied by CITY RESIDENTS and DOWNTOWN WORKERS, who (we hope !) will choose to invest some of their weekly food dollars in continuing convenient access to the best foods from the best farmland in America. Spread the word….Thanks !
Posted by Gene Aleci on February 17, 2010 at 8:38 am | Permalink