Tag Archives: Strawberry Square

National Night Out to bring community, first responders downtown for fun, fellowship

July 18, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

National Night Out 2023. Photo courtesy of the City of Harrisburg.

An upcoming event will bring together community members and first responders.

The Harrisburg Police Bureau will host its annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Strawberry Square, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with food, live music, entertainment, vendors and activities for kids.

National Night Out block parties happen annually across the country on the first Tuesday of August. For the past two years, Harrisburg held its event on City Island. This is the first time National Night Out will take place at Strawberry Square, which provide outdoor and indoor event space in case of rain.

In addition, Whitaker Center will be open to visitors and Walnut Street, from N. 3^rd to Aberdeen streets, and N. 3^rd, from Walnut to Market streets, will be closed to vehicle traffic for the event.

“To be able to meet people in this setting, to just laugh and have a good time […] this is one of those things that I find to be completely welcoming. It’s just a great time,” said Cpt. Russell Winder, commander of the police bureau’s Community Services Division.

The city will offer attendees free food from a variety of outdoor food trucks and food vendors inside and over 50 community vendors will be onsite as well.

Entertainment will feature DJ sets, dance and cheerleading groups and a live band.

Outside, first responders will bring firetrucks, police motorcycles, police cars, drones and other apparatuses for families to explore.

There will be lots of family-friendly activities, Winder said, with a dunk tank, puppet shows and movies playing in the Whitaker Center.

“It’s just going to be a really good time,” he said.

Winder’s favorite part each year is the opportunity that members of the police bureau have to engage with residents in a positive setting.

“Every National Night Out has been something beautiful,” he said.

The city has also partnered with Rabbittransit to offer free bus transportation to and from downtown Harrisburg for the event.

For more information, visit the city’s website or contact Denae House of the bureau’s community services division at 717-255-3018.

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New jewelry store debuts in Harrisburg in Strawberry Square storefront

July 10, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

A display at Tower Jewelers

A new jewelry retailer has opened a storefront in downtown Harrisburg.

Recently, Tower Jewelers debuted in the Shops on 3^rd at Strawberry Square, near the 3^rd Street entrance to the large office, retail and residential complex, according to owner Harristown Enterprises.

“We are thrilled to bring another small business into downtown,” said Brad Jones, Harristown’s president and CEO. “We welcome them to the 3^rd Street corridor.”

Tower Jewelers is located at 7 N. 3^rd St., where they offer a variety of high-end gold and gemstone jewelry. The company has several other locations in Pennsylvania and will be open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Harristown.

For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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Musical Notes: June Jams

May 29, 2025 | by Skye Leppo

In April, I had the opportunity to join a few creative minds in the Harrisburg music scene as an extra in a music video for local R&B/neo-soul musician Kita P’s single, “Friends (Over & Over).” Her soulful voice and dreamy melodies are beautiful, and she’s got a real talent for creating soundscapes that will transport listeners to a moment of peace. Kita P’s next album should be dropping sometime this summer, so keep an eye out for more from this sensational Harrisburg talent.

SHOW OF THE YEAR?

6/8, Mannequin Pussy, XL Live

I do not say this lightly: Mannequin Pussy is one of the greatest living rock bands of our time. Between the band’s growth sonically and frontperson Missy Dabice’s command of the stage, Mannequin Pussy could teach a masterclass in transforming a room into both an arena and a sweaty basement show. A group of Philadelphia’s punk mainstays, Dabice, Kaleen Reading, Bear Regisford and Maxine Steen have enjoyed a meteoric rise that has been so fun to watch and hear over the last five years. The band really came into its own with the release of “Perfect” in 2021 and last year’s “I Got Heaven,” which was my top-ranked album of 2024. I’ll see you in the pit.

CAN’T MISS

6/16, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Hersheypark Stadium

Who’s ready for Mustarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd?! K. Dot & SZA are bringing their incredible double-headlining “Grand National Tour” to the stage at Hersheypark Stadium in June, and I for one am super excited for this show after watching Kendrick’s explosive halftime show during Super Bowl LIX. Based on videos and photos from the tour’s Philly performance in May, concertgoers are sure to have the best time hearing hits like, “squabble up,” “Not Like Us,” “All the Stars” and “Kill Bill.” Ticketmaster is still showing tickets available for this show at the time of print, so good luck securing your spot if you decide to go!

PROM ROCK

6/20, Le Ghast, Strawberry Square Music Series

Local synth/indie project Le Ghast is such a treat to watch live. I’ve had the pleasure of catching them several times at the West Shore Theatre and working with them during last year’s New Cumberland Music + Film Festival. Steph Werner, Michael Stipe and Jordan Zabady work so well together, finding new and interesting ways to interpret beloved songs into funky and ethereal covers alike with beatboxing and synth touches on songs like “Jolene” and “Short Change Hero,” while also creating something completely unique on songs like “Anemone,” “How It Ends” and “Drive.” Check out the band’s 2024 release “Dead of Summer” for a taste. This show is free.

If your venue or friends have a show coming up that should be on our radar, drop me a line at [email protected].

HONORABLE MENTIONS

6/7, Avril Lavigne, Hersheypark Stadium

6/13, Rodney Whitaker, Messiah University Parmer Hall, CPFJ

6/13, Borderline, Burden of Guilt, And Also Bye, Corey James, H*MAC

6/21, Tophouse with Kindred Valley, XL Live

6/21, Minka & The Red Meat Conspiracy, The Abbey Bar

6/27, Ruiness, H*MAC

6/27, Love Unleashed! Pride Show feat. Babel Map, Suzi Brown, Natalie Ness, The Abbey Bar

6/27, Killer Queen, Whitaker Center

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Denim Coffee to open second Harrisburg location, at Strawberry Square kiosk

April 1, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Denim Coffee’s Strawberry Square kiosk

A local coffee shop is offering patrons another Harrisburg location to get their daily cup.

Denim Coffee Company will celebrate its grand opening on Friday inside Strawberry Square, making that two downtown shops for the business, the square’s officials announced on Tuesday.

The shop will open in the kiosk inside the atrium of Strawberry Square, previously occupied by Little Amps Coffee Roasters, which closed that location in December.

“Strawberry Square has been a pillar of the downtown Harrisburg community for decades, and we’re excited for the opportunity to expand our offerings in this unique space,” said Tony Diehl, co-owner of Denim Coffee.

Denim, which has seven locations throughout the region, opened its first Harrisburg location at N. 4^th and Walnut streets in April 2021.

The shop offers coffee drinks, tea and other beverages, as well as baked goods.

To celebrate the grand opening of their newest location, Denim will host a ribbon cutting at the Strawberry Square kiosk on Friday, April 5 at 10:30 a.m.

“We are very excited to have Denim Coffee joining us in Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, president of Strawberry Square Development Corp. “They have established an authentic and high-quality brand throughout the region, and it’s a perfect match for the Square and our patrons seeking a great cup of coffee!”

In addition, Denim shared in August 2024 that it signed a lease for a shop space on the first floor of the Menaker apartment building in Market Square at 17 S. 2^nd St. According to Jones, the opening of that shop has been delayed, but is expected to be completed this summer. Once opened, that would be Denim’s third downtown Harrisburg location.

For more information about Demin Coffee Company, visit their website.

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Peak of Flavor: Mount Everest Nepali & Indian Cuisine debuts downtown

February 27, 2025 | by Kylie Stoltzfus

Shree Paija and Sarita Lama wanted to fill what they saw as a big gap in the local dining scene.

So, recently, they cut the ribbon on Mount Everest Nepali & Indian Cuisine, re-introducing south Asian flavors to the capital city.

“There’s no Indian restaurant in Harrisburg’s downtown,” Paija said. “There’s a lot of people who [love] Indian food there, so I decided to open [a restaurant].”

The new Strawberry Square space is an ode to the fragrant flavors of Paija and Lama’s home country of Nepal, and its namesake pays homage to the world’s tallest mountain, which runs along the border of Nepal and China.

“[Mount Everest is] just so famous in our country,” Paija said. “If you go over there in Nepal, then [you are] visiting Mount Everest.”

While it may be the couple’s first entry into the city’s food scene, it’s hardly their first experience in restaurant ownership.

Ten years ago, they opened Khana Indian Bistro in Hershey after working extensively in other central Pennsylvania restaurants. Now, they are bringing their wealth of hospitality experience to Harrisburg’s central business district.

For Brad Jones, president & CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns Strawberry Square, Mount Everest Nepali & Indian Cuisine is a win for not only the square but for the community at large.

“We’re footsteps from the Capitol. We get a lot of visitors from the Whitaker Center, a lot of visitors from the Hilton Hotel,” Jones said. “People love downtown because they can walk to a lot of different offerings.”

Jones is not just the landlord, but a happy customer. A self-described devotee of Indian cuisine, he’s eaten in the restaurant many times since it opened in late January.

“The quality of the food is tremendous, and the offering of Indian and Nepali food provides a really nice diversity of food offerings here,” he said.

Previously home to Fresa Bistro, which closed during the pandemic, Mount Everest’s sit-down space is a welcome addition to the fast-casual dining options available elsewhere in Strawberry Square.

“People have talked a lot about [the] pandemic kind of taking [a] bite out of the city’s restaurant scene,” Jones said. “This is a great example of a strong comeback.”

Among Mount Everest’s curated menu, a dedicated section highlights traditional Nepali dishes like momo, a steamed dumpling stuffed with chicken or vegetables, and sekuwa, meat marinated with traditional spices and grilled over a wood fire.

For first-time patrons, Paija recommends the chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken and palak paneer, a North Indian curry dish, or garlic naan, a fragrant flatbread. Guests can also sample a selection of rotating signature dishes at the restaurant’s lunch buffet to find their favorites.

“People will crawl through hot lava to get to good Indian food, and I’m one of them,” Jones said. “There are other Indian restaurants outside of the city, but this is the only one in the city. That’s really important.”

Mount Everest Nepali & Indian Cuisine is located at 19 N. 3rd St. (Strawberry Square), Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.mounteverestcuisinepa.com.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 14, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Strawberry Square Music Series

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our Burg lovers! We hope you spend the holiday with loved ones and just maybe enjoy all that the Harrisburg restaurant scene has to offer. First, catch up on our news from the week, below.

The City Council race is on, as a slate of three candidates announced that they would each run for the office in the May primary, our online story reported. Elyse Irvis, Andrea Grove and Basir Vincent will run as United Neighbors for Harrisburg.

Exploring nature and science is a great way to incorporate fun into an educational experience as a family. Our columnist recommends checking out Lancaster’s North Museum of Nature & Science, Hoffer Park in Middletown, and Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary.

Home sales in the Harrisburg area rose in January, as did prices, our reporting found. To find specific stats for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, click here.

Open Stage in Harrisburg is currently performing “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” a musical that follows the main character’s life after a botched sex change operation. Our reviewer offers her take on the show, here.

Realtor Erica Rawls has grown her team over the years to service clients of all budgets, our magazine story reported. However, her passion remains the same—to assist first-time homebuyers and underserved clients.

Sankofa African American Theatre kicks off its production of “Voices of the Eighth Part III: Hallowed Ground” this weekend, our online story reported. The play tells the story of Harrisburg’s Old Eighth Ward, a historic prominently Black and immigrant neighborhood.

Sara Bozich has found all the best ways to make your Valentine’s Day weekend in Harrisburg special, listing them, here.

Spaghetti sauce may be easy to buy in a jar, but a quality homemade sauce makes all the difference. Find Rosemary’s simple sauce recipe, here.

Strawberry Square announced the launch of its free music series, which will invite attendees to experience local musicians each month, our online story reported. The concerts will take place during 3^rd in the Burg nights.

W. Justin Carter was a prominent Black attorney in Harrisburg, an early leader of the NAACP and a fighter against injustice. Read our magazine story to find out more about his life and legacy.

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Plants + Pints to bring vegan, vegetarian vendors to Harrisburg this spring

February 3, 2025 | by Maddie Gittens

Plants + Pints 2024. Photo by Michael Yatsko Photography.

Organizers of an upcoming spring event hope that eating green will grow on you.

Plants + Pints will return to Strawberry Square in Harrisburg on April 6, promoting local vegan, vegetarian and eco-conscious vendors and brewers.

Harristown Enterprises and Sara Bozich Events will host the plant-based festivities from 1 to 5 p.m. Attendees will be able to sample and purchase food and drinks from a variety of vendors, and shop handmade goods from local artisans.

“We’re excited to return Plants + Pints to Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown Enterprises. “We’ve seen how interest in a healthy or plant-based lifestyle has grown, and the Harrisburg area has so much to offer. This festival allows vegans, vegetarians, and the veg-curious, to shop, sip, and sample from local vendors in a fun, inviting space – while giving back to the community.”

Tickets are required for entry and proceeds will support Harrisburg-based Downtown Daily Bread, which provides food, shelter and resources to the unhoused. Last year’s event raised $5,000 for the nonprofit.

Tickets for the event are $20 and kids under 12 years old can attend for free.

For more information on Plants + Pints, visit their website. Click here to purchase tickets.

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New shoe, clothing retailer headed to downtown Harrisburg

January 28, 2025 | by Lawrance Binda

Strawberry Square

A new retailer soon will set up shop in downtown Harrisburg.

On Tuesday, Harristown Enterprises announced that Soles4Me, which sells new and pre-owned sneakers and designer clothes, will open at 9 N. 3^rd St., adjacent to the 3^rd Street entrance to Strawberry Square.

The store will have a soft opening this Friday, Jan. 31, with a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Feb. 7.

“We’re super excited to be back in the Pennsylvania area,” said co-owner Cam Peroni. “We have so many great clients there already.”

Soles4Me will offer a large selection of new and previously owned sneakers and designer clothes for sale or trade. This is their second brick-and-mortar location, the first opening in Buford, Ga., in 2023.

“We are excited to build a genuine connection with the Harrisburg community,” said co-owner Danny Flores.

The store will be open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.

“We are happy to welcome Soles4Me to downtown Harrisburg,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown, which owns Strawberry Square. “This shop will help bring vitality to the shops along N. 3^rd Street.”

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Nepali, Indian restaurant to open in Harrisburg’s Strawberry Square this fall

September 30, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

The future site of Mount Everest Nepali and Indian Cuisine in Strawberry Square

Harrisburg diners will soon have a new cultural cuisine option downtown.

Mount Everest Nepali and Indian Cuisine plans to open a new restaurant in Strawberry Square later this year, filling a gap in the downtown food scene, according to a Monday press release.

“I’m really happy to get this space,” said Shree Paija, who co-owns the business with Sarita Lama. “There is no Indian food available in downtown Harrisburg, and folks need an Indian/Nepalese food option.”

Mount Everest will be the owners’ second restaurant location. They currently operate Khana Indian Bistro in Hershey.

The new restaurant will be located in Strawberry Square at 19 N. 3rd St., with entrances along 3rd Street and inside Strawberry Square. The 2,200 square-foot space previously housed Fresa Bistro and later Real Elite Buffet.

Following minor interior updates to the space, Mount Everest is slated to open in November. A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony will be announced.

“Strawberry Square and the Shops on 3^rd are a center of activity, and Mount Everest will bring back a popular Indian dining choice, adding to our already robust collection of food options,” said Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown Development Corporation, which owns Strawberry Square.

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Harrisburg River Rescue to benefit from “Berry Bash,” a new charitable event

September 17, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

Every year, Harrisburg River Rescue volunteers rush down to the Susquehanna to help save endangered boaters and swimmers.

Now, you have a chance to return the favor, while having a good time, as a new fundraiser is being organized to benefit this worthy organization.

On Tuesday, Sara Bozich and Harristown Enterprises announced the inaugural Berry Bash, which will take place in Strawberry Square on Oct. 26.

“My vision is to create an event that people are genuinely excited to attend with the feel-good bonus of giving back,” said Bozich, the event organizer.

The Berry Bash was inspired by the Strawberry Ball, a popular event from a quarter-century ago, Bozich said.

The event’s theme will be “dress up or dress up,” encouraging guests to don either costumes, cocktail attire, or a mix of both, with “best dressed” contests as a highlight.

For the night, Strawberry Square will be decorated in a red and black color scheme, and the local party band, Funktion, will play on the new UPMC Clock Box Stage. The JDK Group Catering & Events will provide heavy hors d’oeuvres stations, passed desserts and two bars.

Tickets are priced at $85 per person or $150 per couple. Proceeds will directly support the volunteer-run, nonprofit Harrisburg River Rescue & Emergency Services.

Berry Bash takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 7 to 10 p.m., in the atrium of Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the event website.

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