September 2026

Director's Message

Amanda Everitt

A More Accessible Downtown Starts With Small Things

One of the things that makes Downtown Lancaster special is our historic buildings, and we know those beautiful storefronts can sometimes come with very real accessibility challenges. Steps, narrow entrances, and decades-old building layouts are not always easy or inexpensive to change. But accessibility does not have to start with a major renovation. There are some simple things every business and property owner can do to make our downtown more welcoming and easier to navigate for everyone.

Start With the Sidewalk: take a walk in front of your building and look at the pedestrian path from the perspective of someone using a wheelchair, walker, cane, or stroller. As a general rule, an accessible route needs at least 36 inches of continuous clear width, and Lancaster's sidewalk ordinance requires property owners to keep sidewalks free of obstructions. When possible, 48 inches of clear space is an even better goal. It gives people more room to navigate comfortably and makes it easier for two people to pass one another.

That means taking a second look at things like:

• Sandwich boards and signs
• Planters and flower boxes
• Outdoor merchandise displays
• Café tables and chairs
• Trash cans and other equipment
• Overgrown landscaping
• Anything that creates a trip hazard or narrows the walking path

A good rule of thumb is simple: If something can be moved to allow a wheelchair to pass more easily, move it out of the pedestrian travel path and focus on maintaining a continuous, clear pathway.

Take a Fresh Look at Your Entrance: If your storefront has a step or raised threshold, accessibility can be more complicated, particularly in a historic building where changing the entrance may affect the character or structure of the building. That is where it is worth asking questions rather than assuming there is nothing that can be done.The City of Lancaster has a Ramp Accessibility Project that provides an opportunity for businesses to request a temporary mobility ramp. The application asks about the height of the entrance step, the amount of space available in front of the entrance and how a ramp would benefit customers.

A more accessible Downtown is a shared effort. ADA requirements can be complicated, and this is not intended to be an exhaustive list of regulations or a substitute for professional guidance, but improving accessibility often starts with surprisingly simple things: keep the sidewalk clear, eliminate avoidable trip hazards, make entrances as accessible as reasonably possible, and take a fresh look at your storefront from the perspective of someone with a mobility challenge.

And if your historic building presents a challenge, do not assume the answer is “we can't.” Start by asking “what can we do?”

Every step, or in some cases, every ramp, helps make Downtown Lancaster a place where more people can comfortably shop, dine, work and enjoy everything our downtown has to offer.

Need help figuring out where to start? Give me a call!

Downtown SID Board Meeting

SID Board Meeting

Tuesday, October 13th | 3 pm | Park National Bank Conference Room, Downtown Office, 143 West Main Street

The Downtown Lancaster Special Improvement District Board meets quarterly on the second Tuesday of the month at 3 pm. These board meetings are open to all SID property owners. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 13th, at 3:00 pm. If you have any questions, email Jean at info@destinationdowntownlancaster.com.

Downtown Business Meeting

Next Downtown Business Meetings

*RESCHEDULED TO THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH*

October 15th | 9:00 am L-City Coffee + Underground

October 15th | 4:30 pm Maria's Mexican Restaurant

Please note that the Downtown Business Meetings originally scheduled for Thursday, October 8th have been rescheduled to Thursday, October 15th. Thanks to your feedback, we continue to offer two different opportunities for you to participate in the Downtown Business Meetings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Mark your calendar now to join us at either 9:00 am on Thursday, October 15th, at The L-City Coffee + Underground or later on the same day at 4:30 pm at Maria's Mexican Restaurant.

The Downtown Business Meeting is a way for DDL to bring all the businesses of the district together. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a space for you to stay connected and up-to-date on things happening downtown. We use this time to share important information and resources with all member businesses in the district.

Help Us Tell the Story of

Downtown Lancaster

At Destination Downtown Lancaster, we spend a lot of time working behind the scenes to help downtown thrive. We create events and experiences, promote our businesses, connect people and organizations, support property owners, solve problems, build partnerships, and champion the people who make downtown Lancaster what it is.

But here’s the thing: we can’t do it alone.

What makes DDL special isn’t just what happens inside our office. It’s the relationships we’ve built, the businesses and property owners who show up, the community partners who jump in, and the incredible network of people who believe in the future of downtown.

Now, we want to show the rest of Lancaster what that looks like.

We’re excited to partner with IVP Media to create a short video series that tells the story of Destination Downtown Lancaster through three simple themes:

Who We Are. What We Do. How We Do It.

And we want you to be part of the story.

We’re inviting our downtown businesses, property owners, members, and community partners to join us on camera and help show what makes the DDL family different. This isn’t about giving a polished presentation or memorizing a script. It’s about sharing the real relationships, collaboration, energy, and collective effort that make downtown Lancaster special.

Your participation helps us tell a bigger story: that Downtown Lancaster isn’t just a collection of businesses and buildings. It’s a connected network of people who work together, support one another, and believe that what we build together is stronger than what any of us could build alone.

Want to be part of it? Sign up below to participate!

We’ll have multiple filming opportunities and will follow up with participants as dates and details are finalized. Whether you’ve been involved with DDL for years or you’re newer to the downtown family, we want your voice, your perspective, and your story.

Help us show Lancaster what happens when a downtown

comes together!

Pedestrian Wayfinding Marketing Opportunity

We are thrilled to announce that next week, 8 new wayfinding sign systems will be installed throughout downtown Lancaster. 

This $30,000 project creates Lancaster-branded wayfinding systems that will help people find your business from strategic areas around the district. The Downtown Lancaster Pedestrian Wayfinding Signage Program provides high-traffic advertising opportunities on six strategically placed 13-foot-tall signage posts and two repurposed kiosks.

Each post features dual brackets holding 40 directional placards, and the two kiosks will each hold 20 directional placards. The locations of the units are as follows: 

• W Chestnut Street outside the farmers market, capturing the thousands of folks that come every Saturday. 

• Corner of S Broad and W Chestnut Street outside the Christian Science Reading Room, capturing all those folks that may come to popular sites like The Well and Whit's, but may not have explored the rest of downtown.

• Corner of N Broad and W Main at Veteran's Square, capturing the vast amount of pedestrian traffic that moves through this intersection daily.  

• Outside the Hall of Justice on E Main Street, capturing all of the citizens, legal professionals, jurors, etc that leave this building daily and might otherwise drive to Wendy's for lunch!

• The corner of W Main and N Columbus Street captures pedestrian traffic at this intersection and people who park in the free city lot or JFS as they enter the district on foot.  

• N Columbus Street outside Rose Chic/Hairitage Salon, capturing the heavy salon traffic and shoppers in our retail-heavy area, guiding folks to all the other attractions in town.  

Repurposed Kiosks:

• Outside the municipal court building at the crosswalk at Center Alley, capturing the attention of glass museum visitors and folks in and out of the courthouse.

• Veteran's Square by Bank Alley, in the heart of most downtown events. 

If you would like to apply to include your business on the sign(s), please view the form below. Not sure what locations are best for your business? Reach out to Amanda to discuss at amanda@destinationdowntownlancaster.com.

SID Facade Improvement Grant Results

Congratulations to two of the awardees of the 2026 SID Facade Improvement Grant, Wayfarer Books and Uptown Clothing Company! They used their matching funds to install new awnings on the front of their buildings. Thank you for your investment!

Stay tuned for more reveals as the other awardees complete their

own projects. 

Fall Festival Downtown Scavenger Hunt

On October 17th, DDL will host Downtown Lancaster’s Fall Festival & Bark in the Park. During this event, there will be free tractor rides, vendors, music, a scavenger hunt throughout participating businesses, and more!

We’re inviting businesses to participate by hiding a Halloween figure that we’ll provide (similar to the snowman in the scavenger hunt during Winterfest). The goal is to encourage Fall Festival attendees to explore more of downtown beyond the North Broad Street area where the main event takes place.



Sign-ups are due by September 30th.

There is no participation fee for the scavenger hunt.

Summer Street Closure Is Ending

The summer closure of Broad Street will wrap up on Friday, September 18th! Remember to look both ways when you're crossing in the square. Thanks for a great summer!

Thanks for a Great Saturday Cinema Season!

Saturday Cinema has officially wrapped up for the season! We'd like to thank our sponsors, volunteers, and the nonprofits and organizations that provided pre-movie activities.

We enjoyed seeing the creative ways you all embraced the movie themes for your activities. 'Til next season!

Downtown Welcomes New Teachers

We were so excited to welcome the newest Lancaster City Schools teachers to downtown on Friday, August 21st! They explored our charming downtown and enjoyed a tasty lunch from our restaurants. We’re thrilled to have them join our community and can’t wait to see what the '26–27 year brings.

Thank you to all of the businesses that submitted promotions to us to make the day extra special for them!

County Auditor Urges Property Owners to Report Property Damage

Following the several recent severe storms that impacted our community, the Fairfield County Auditor’s Office (210 E Main St) is asking residents and property owners to report any storm-related damage to help ensure accurate property records and support potential relief efforts. The office understands that this has been a difficult time for many families. They are committed to making the reporting process as simple and supportive as possible.

“When severe storms strike, we know how difficult and overwhelming it can be for families and homeowners. Our office is here to help during these challenging times. If your home has suffered damage or destruction—whether it’s to your roof, foundation, or other parts of your home or buildings—we encourage you to report it to our office. We’re here to listen and make sure the damage is accurately reflected on the valuation of your property,” stated Dr. Carri Brown, Fairfield

County Auditor.

All property owners who experienced damage to homes, buildings, or other structures are encouraged to

submit a report. This includes:

• Structural damage (roof, walls, foundation)

• Flooding or water damage

• Damage to outbuildings (garages, barns, sheds)

• Destroyed or significantly impacted property improvements

Residents can report damage by providing a completed form DTE 26.

The form is linked below!

Sunday Funday Downtown!

Have you noticed all the extra foot traffic in Downtown Lancaster over the past few weeks? Our Sunday Funday initiative is off to a fantastic start, and we're already seeing more people choosing to spend their Sundays exploring downtown. Businesses that are open have shared a common message from customers: "We wish more places were open." Our next Second Sunday, the week when the most businesses are open, will be Sunday, September 12th! Participating businesses, prep for success by creating posts and sharing DDL's post as well. Consider doing a Second Sunday special or deal!

We understand that staffing, capacity, and personal time all matter. No one is pretending this is an easy shift. But even a modest Sunday schedule, whether it's seasonal, limited hours, or just once or twice a month, can create meaningful new revenue while helping build the kind of vibrant, seven-day downtown that benefits everyone.

The best part? It's not too late to join! We are continuing to promote Sunday Funday throughout the season by highlighting participating businesses and encouraging residents and visitors to make Downtown Lancaster their Sunday destination. If you've been thinking about testing Sunday hours, now is the perfect time to jump in. Click the link below to add your business and be part of the momentum!

Downtown Youth Passport Update

Thank you, everyone, who signed up for the Downtown Youth Passport program! We will pick up the printed passports this week, so stay tuned for more information as we begin rolling them out.

Small Business Celebration Weekend

We celebrate our local businesses every day, but on nationally celebrated Small Business Saturday, we take extra care to drive customers to shop small for the holidays!

We are going to continue extending it into a whole weekend of shopping small! Sign up below by November 13th to be included in the myriad of paid advertising that we invest in for this weekend.

Stay In The Know: Community Hosted Events

United Way Community Care Day is on Thursday, September 10th. The 2026 United Way Campaign will kick off at 7:45 am at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, then hundreds of volunteers will head out to participate in hands-on projects throughout the County. Many of them will be working in our Downtown area. Be sure to say "Thank You" if you see them!

The 21st annual Ohio Corvette Club Alliance's Corvette Gathering will take place Sunday, September 13th from 10:00 am–3:00 pm on Main Street in Downtown Lancaster. Make plans now for increased foot traffic and decreased street access. 

There will be hundreds and hundreds of people downtown to take in the fantastic cars and they will be ready to shop, eat and drink. Those of you who have already let us know you will be open are listed on a flyer given to all the registrants!

It's time for Visit Fairfield County's "Trail of Scarecrows"! This year's theme is “America 250” in celebration of the semiquincentennial anniversary of the United States of America.



Registration is open now until September 30th. Scarecrows are displayed from October 1st to October 31st. This is a great opportunity to attract attention and customers to your business. Your scarecrow display will be listed on the Visit Fairfield County “Trail of Scarecrows” digital map. There will be a People's Choice Award winner in EACH community and winners (written in by voters) for each category.



We may fill tree wells outside your business with scarecrows even if you do not sign up; make sure you sign up and claim your space if you intend to participate.

New Life Christian Center invites you to join the church for I Love My City Care Day 2026, a special day dedicated to giving back and meeting the community right where it is.

On Saturday, September 26th, from 10:00 am–2:00 pm, NLCC will bring the community together to help people and provide practical resources they need. They would love for your organization to be part of the day!

Arrival time will be 9:00 am at the Downtown Square Gazebo!

NLCC will provide free hygiene items, clothing, housewares, lunch, concessions, and more. They're inviting you to bring your organization, your heart for the community, and a desire to give back.

Interested in joining them? Please reserve your spot by completing the form below by Friday, September 11th.



NLCC would be so grateful to have you alongside them for this incredible day! Thank you for considering being part of I Love My City Care Day.

Fairfield Center for Independence Wants to Partner With You!

Read below for a message from Joshua Stevens, Executive Director of Fairfield Center for Independence in Lancaster.

"For more than 70 years, our organization has worked to empower individuals to live with greater

independence, inclusion, and opportunity.

We are currently working to expand our Adult Day Services (ADS) Program to include more meaningful community-integrated experiences. Our ADS members are excited to explore the businesses, organizations, and attractions that make Lancaster such a special place.

We are looking to partner with local businesses interested in welcoming a small group for a tour, hands-on experience, activity, or simply an opportunity to learn more about the business. To ensure everything goes smoothly, FCI provides wheelchair-accessible transportation and dedicated, caring staff members who accompany participants and provide support and guidance with each visit. This is an opportunity to create meaningful connections, promote inclusion, and introduce our members to the people and places that make Lancaster unique.

If you would like to partner with us, contact Joshua Stevens or Alicia Greenwood, ADS Director, at 740-653-5501, or visit our website below and leave us a message. Thank you for helping make Lancaster a place where everyone has the opportunity to belong, participate, and contribute. We look forward to connecting with you!"

Lancaster Port Authority Invests in Revolving Loan Fund

The Lancaster Port Authority is contributing significant funding to develop The Shumaker and all of Downtown Lancaster through the Fairfield County Revolving Loan Fund.

The Port Authority Board of Directors recently approved $150,000 annually over two years to support small business financing. This funding will be administered through the county’s Revolving Loan Fund, which will be available to businesses at the Shumaker or other businesses throughout Downtown Lancaster.

“This fund aims to support Historic Downtown Lancaster businesses and foster continued vibrancy and growth that developments such as the Shumaker bring to downtown Lancaster,” said Lancaster Port Authority Director Stephanie Bosco.

“All prospective tenants in historic downtown Lancaster are encouraged to apply. Our downtown is the cornerstone of our community and we want to see it continue to thrive.”

This investment showcases the Port Authority's commitment to strengthening the local business community and supporting revitalization efforts in downtown Lancaster.

Click the button below to apply!

2027 Hocking Hills Official Visitors Guide

Great Lakes Studios is getting started on its 2027 Hocking Hills Visitor's Guide!

This publication is an excellent way to drive Hocking Hills tourists towards Lancaster. Interested in featuring your business? Check out the form below!

SBDC Profit Mastery Class

Join the Ohio Small Business Development Center for a Profit Mastery Class! See the flyer above for details. Click the button below to register.

Free Graphic Design Resources

Did you know that our social media frequently gets over half a million views? In April, we reached over 635,000 views for Facebook alone. If you're not submitting to our Business Resource Page, you're not taking full advantage of your DDL membership!

Please consider taking a few minutes every week to send something our way. Capitalize on our social media reach for your business!

Do you need to learn the principles of design, or brush up on your skills? You can access free LinkedIn Learning courses through the Fairfield County District Library!

LinkedIn Learning is an online educational platform offering over 25,000 expert-led courses designed to help individuals develop business, technology, and creative skills. All you need is a library card! If you don't have one or don't feel like stopping by the library, you can even get a web-only card.

With more than 25,000 courses available in various formats, LinkedIn Learning covers a wide range of topics, including business, technology, and creative skills. Courses are taught by industry experts and are available in over 46 languages.

• Personalized Learning Experience: The platform provides personalized course recommendations based on users' interests and career goals, allowing learners to focus on skills that are most relevant to their professional development.

• Integration with LinkedIn: Users can add completed courses and skills to their LinkedIn profiles, enhancing their professional visibility and showcasing their commitment to continuous learning.

• Hands-On Learning: Many courses include practical exercises, assessments, and downloadable resources to reinforce learning and provide real-world applications of the skills taught.

Do You Have Downtown Properties Available?

Do you own a downtown property available for rent or purchase? We have added a new "Live Downtown" section to our website, and we still use our available properties listing on the website that includes commercial and parking availability. If you're looking for new tenants or buyers, submit your property below, and we will add it to the website!

We Want to Help You!

Do you know the benefits that come with your membership? One of our greatest goals as an organization is to support the businesses in our district by providing marketing support.

If you are a Mover & Shaker Member, or above*, you can take advantage of a private social media consultation and strategy session!

You can also schedule a newsletter spotlight for our weekly community newsletter or sign up for a short-form video highlight to share on social media. Click the buttons below to schedule your member benefits!

*Must be located in our downtown district.

More Business Resources Through VFC

Double your impact with business resources from our partner organization, Visit Fairfield County. You can visit their website's Business Resources page to find additional tools to advertise your business and bring in customers.

Small Business Development Center

FREE Virtual Training Events

September 2026 Virtual Trainings

Strategic Social Media Planning for Relationship Building

Sept. 8th, 10:00am - 11:30am

Register Here

Lunch & Learn: To Write Off or Not

Sept. 8th, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Register Here

Google for Business

Sept. 16th, 9:30am - 11:30am

Register Here

Lunch & Learn: Goal Setting

Sept. 17th, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Register Here

Google: Docs, Sheets & More!

Sept. 17th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Basis of a Successful Start (BOSS)

Sept. 22nd, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Register Here

Planning Social Media Content Using AI

Sept. 23rd, 9:30am - 11:30am

Register Here

Positioning Your Company's Value

Sept. 24th, 9:30am - 10:30am

Register Here

QuickBooks Online: Part 1

Sept. 24th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Social Media for the Holidays

Sept. 30th, 9:30am - 11:30am

Register Here

QuickBooks Online: Part 2

Oct. 1st, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Click the link below to explore SBDC training events that are provided at no cost to assist you and your business, and to register for any of those free trainings.

Follow SBDC on Facebook by clicking HERE.