New businesses are about to move into Strawberry Square.
A new restaurant and a new gift shop soon will open in downtown Harrisburg, among a flurry of business activity in Strawberry Square.
The 60-seat Fresa Café is slated to open in early fall near the 3rd Street entrance in a long-empty space once occupied by a bank branch.
Fresa Café is the latest concept of restaurateur Juan Garcia, who owns El Sol and La Noche, both up the block on S. 3rd Street. The 2,000-square-foot restaurant will offer a variety of salads, soups, wraps and other healthy options, said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square.
Inside the Square, Harristown has signed a replacement for Strawberry Patch, the Hallmark store that shut down in January after 35 years in business. By July, owner Shekhar Shah will open Strawberry Gifts, a 4,000-square-foot Hallmark store in the same space as the previous shop, said Jones. Shah is familiar with Strawberry Square, as he also runs Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the food court.
In other retail news, AMMA JO, a fashion and lifestyle boutique, is expanding into space directly next to her original location, said owner Amma Johnson. Later this month, Johnson will take another 1,200 square feet, extending her product line, as well. Johnson just opened her Strawberry Square location in December, but cites strong demand for needing additional space.
Another specialty retailer, Ideas and Objects, also is making an adjustment. Jones said that the long-time retailer will relocate from an interior location to 11 N. 3rd St., a smaller space with street access. That move should be completed by mid-June, he said.
Meanwhile, Harristown is completing the conversion of a part of Strawberry Square to upscale apartments. The 22-unit Flats at Strawberry Square should be opened in late July, and Harristown already is accepting rental applications, said Jones.
Up the street, Harristown is continuing work on 29 apartments and renovated commercial space. Former office space at 18 to 22 S. 3rd St. is being converted to 15 one-bedroom apartments and being renamed Fifteen@Twenty-Two or F@tt. Across the street, adjacent townhouses at 19 to 27 S. 3rd St. are being renovated as 14 pet-friendly apartments with lower-level commercial space. That complex will be called SoMa on Third.
“Things are looking very positive in the downtown,” said Jones. “We’re excited at the progress.”
