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THE ABINGTON s
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t en
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October 15, 2015
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SUBURBAN
Landmark Clarks Summit retail store getting a facelift by Linda Scott
SPECIAL TO THE ABINGTON SUBURBAN
Change is coming to State Street in Clarks Summit. Duffy’s Coffeehouse will move next door to the building which formerly housed Bunnell Hardware. Bunnell opened for business in 1911, the year Clarks Summit was founded. Judson Bunnell was the first generation in the business, later joined by his son Loyal. The early inventory of the day was geared to famers and the railroad industry.
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Work is progressing at the former site of Bunnells Hardware.
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The hardware store remained in the Bunnell family for more than 100 years on State Street. George N. Bunnell Sr. and George N. Bunnell Jr. were the third and fourth generation of the Bunnell family to run the store. Bunnell closed in December, 2013. Duffy’s moved into the current location in 2011. “Duffy’s is in a location that I really liked and I wanted to stay close to where I was. I wanted the new location to be handicapped assessable and to meet the American with Disabilities code.” said Mari Walker, owner of Duffy’s. Stephen Young is the owner of the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and a partner in State Street Realty. State Street Realty recently purchased the Bunnell building. “When the opportunity presented itself, my brother-in-law, Chris Manci, and I decided to invest in downtown Clarks Summit. With the Gathering Place in the former firehouse next door, it seemed like a perfect fit for a new venture in this landmark building. We both have a strong desire to enhance the small-town Main Street experience,” he said. Renovations are now underway at the Bunnell building. The walls, wiring and ceilings have been removed and modern replacements installed. The freight elevator has been serviced. Duffy’s will now have access to a parking lot in the back of the store for customer parking. “Our vision for the building is to create a marketplace/coffeehouse atmosphere, somewhere that people of all ages are welcome,” Young said.
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The renovated Bunnell building will house four artist kiosks in addition to Duffy’s. The new venue will act as a tradeshow for local artists. Cronin’s Irish Cottage and Aquilina Oddities are two possible considerations for the kiosks. Aquilina Oddities makes homemade jewelry. “This will give Duffy’s an opportunity to work with other small businesses,” said Walker. The upper floor will have two apartments and a community room, which will be available to rent out. “If people are having guests over to their house to watch a football game and they would rather go somewhere else to watch, then they can rent the room for that,” said Walker. The room will be available for private music lessons, community events and other uses. Duffy’s will continue to showcase area artist art work. Duffy’s has live music on Friday and Saturday nights and open mic on Wednesdays. Duufy’s will continue to sell its signature coffees and baked goods at the new location. Customers used to seeing the blackboards that display menu items and specials will continue to see them at the new location. “We have a new mobile coffee cart that we take to events. We were recently at the Abington Rotary’s Taste of the Town and at Nay Aug Park. Event-goers can get cappuccino and lattes on the go,” said Walker. Clarks Summit Mayor Patty Lawler sees the renovation to the Bunnell Building as an assist to the community. “I am happy when a developer invests in an old building and remodels and repurposes it to bring new life and a new beginning to the building. It brings excitement to the town.” she said. The restored building will continue to be use1313 Wyoming Ave., Exeter •
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