October 2026

Director's Message

Amanda Everitt

October brings exciting progress as we continue working together to make downtown a place where people want to spend their time, open businesses, and invest in our future.

Work has officially begun at 121 W Main Street! You may notice dumpsters out front and in the back over the next few months, but I promise there is something worth getting excited about behind those doors. Stay tuned to our channels for updates or follow The Mithoff Companies on Facebook; Brad often shares renderings and designs that will make you SWOON!

This project brings together two people who each bring something special to downtown. Matt Brady is well-known and loved for creating the kind of food that keeps people coming back, and Brad Hutchinson has built a reputation for investing in historic buildings and doing things the right way. If you know Brad, you know about the “Hutch Touch”. Soon enough, we will be taking it all in with a slice of wood-fired pizza in our hands.  

Speaking of Hutch, I can also share that Brad has acquired another building downtown for ANOTHER exciting new project. We’ll share more soon, so stay tuned! 

Liz Fox can't let Brad and Matt have all the fun; she is the newest SID property owner at 131 and 129 W Main, the former location of Integrated Behavioral Health Services. This building is about to get the glow-up she deserves under the passionate leadership and direction of this local legend. It is always worth celebrating when we can increase the amount of local ownership in our most precious historic buildings. Stay tuned for exciting updates about the future of these spaces!

We’re also celebrating two signed leases involving Lulu’s Coffee and Martha’s Bath & Body at The Shumaker. Every new lease represents another step toward bringing more activity, new offerings, and more reasons for people to visit downtown. We’re excited to see these businesses continue to take shape and look forward to sharing more as things progress.

Wayfinding signs are coming!

You have seen the fantastic units, and our new downtown wayfinding signage will begin to be installed over the next two weeks. This project is about making downtown easier to navigate, helping visitors discover our businesses and destinations, and creating a more connected experience for everyone who visits.

Please join us for a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, October 21, at noon in the Square as we celebrate this next step in making downtown more welcoming and accessible. I hope you’ll stop by!

All of these updates, big and small, are part of what makes a downtown successful. Historic buildings being brought back to life, new businesses finding their place, property owners investing in their buildings, and improvements that make it easier for people to explore all add up to something meaningful.

Thank you for the time, energy, and investment you continue to put into downtown Lancaster. Growth takes all of us, and it’s exciting to see the progress happening across our district. There is plenty more ahead, and I look forward to sharing it with you!

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.

2027 Membership Application Coming Soon!

When you become a member of Destination Downtown Lancaster, you strengthen the heart of your community.

Your investment in downtown is really an investment in the future. We can see that the future is bright when small businesses are thriving, residents have pride in their home, tourists are walking the streets of downtown, and our community is connected. Your membership is more than a donation—it’s building a community, and we couldn't be more grateful.

DDL membership provides a myriad of benefits, depending on your level of membership. To name a few: access to the Downtown Community Calendar, sharing of your goods and services on DDL's social media (30,000+ followers), first-hand knowledge of new projects and developments, marketing and social media support, inclusion in our downtown visitors brochure, your name or business linked on our DDL website and in our weekly newsletter (over 5,400 weekly subscribers), and so much more!

Stay tuned for the 2027 Membership Application COMING SOON!

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!

Review Your DDL Website Business Listing

Help us keep our website in tip-top shape! Please head to the DDL website and review your business listing(s). Click on the relevant tab from "Shop" to "Refresh and Rejuvenate" to review your business info.

If you'd like to update the language and/or image for your listing, please email Cheri at marketing@destinationdowntownlancaster.com

Marketing Presentation Interest Form

Our Marketing Specialist, Cheri, has been designing a presentation to help you maximize your social media power! If you're interested, please fill out the form below to let us know which format and times will work best for you.

Whether you're a new business owner or have years of marketing experience, you're sure to learn something new during this presentation tailored to you!

Pedestrian Wayfinding Marketing Opportunity Updates

We are thrilled to announce that 8 new wayfinding sign units have been installed throughout downtown Lancaster!

Individual signs will begin to be installed over the next two weeks, but it's not too late to join the initiative! 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.

To celebrate this project and downtown becoming more welcoming and accessible, please join us for a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, October 21st, at 12:00 pm in Zane Square!

Project Details:

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 14 directional placards. Four of these units are already full–sign up to get yours today! 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. 

This project is made possible thanks to the Fairfield County Foundation, The Pickering Fund, The Fairfield County Land Bank, the City of Lancaster, and the Lancaster Port Authority.

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!

Thank you to all of the businesses that have signed up to participate in our Fall Festival Scavenger Hunt! Participating businesses will receive a Halloween figure to hide in their business, similar to the snowman used during the Winterfest scavenger hunt. This activity is designed to encourage Fall Festival attendees to explore more of downtown beyond the North Broad Street area where the main event takes place.

There will be a street closure for the FallFest event:

North and South Broad Street from Bank Alley south to Zane Alley will be closed from 9:00 am–7:00 pm.

Alley access will be maintained, and there is no parking on Broad Street within the closure area during the shutdown time. Please be sure your staff are aware of these closures so they can make arrangements for access to your business as well as being able to explain the closure to customers.



Reminder: there is NO Downtown Trick or Treat this year.

Dolly Day Thank-You!

Thank you to all of the businesses that participated in Dolly Day on Friday, September 25th! Your contributions to help raise money for the Imagination Library program are greatly appreciated.

If you raised donations, please send those to United Way ASAP so that they can be implemented.

Didn't get to join the fun due to the quick turnaround? No worries! Stay tuned for Dolly Day in 2027.

Check out the photos from the day below!

250 Plates Thank-You!

We are filled with gratitude and pride after a very successful, collaborative 250 Plates event on Sunday, September 27th.

Together with the Fairfield County Foundation, we hosted our seventh community farm-to-table event in support of Keller Market House, Destination Downtown Lancaster, and area food pantries.

None of this could have occurred without the generosity of sponsors and donors, the bounty of locally grown, produced, and raised food, and our fantastic restaurants and chefs who created a menu that was a delight for the senses. 



Hosting a dinner for 320 of our closest friends, featuring the talents of downtowners, Ale House 1890, Provisions Bakery and Deli, El Parian Steaks & Tequila, The Well, L-City Coffee, Whit’s Frozen Custard of Lancaster, Rockside Winery, Rhonemus Cellars, and Double Edge Brewery, made us exceptionally proud. Special thanks to the Lancaster High School culinary leadership and students.

We're also extremely grateful for our team of volunteers who were instrumental in the execution of this event. We couldn't have done it without them!

Sunday Funday Downtown!

Have you noticed all the extra foot traffic in Downtown Lancaster over the past few months? Our Sunday Funday initiative is still going, and we're continuing to see 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, October 10th! 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! By now, you should have received passports, a stamp, and a Business Info Sheet to share with your staff.

If you need more passports, you can order them from our website below!

We are currently collecting downtown gift cards and swag for our Passport Prize Closet. If you'd like to donate to the closet, please email Jean at info@destinationdowntownlancaster.com.

Upcoming Holiday Sign-Ups

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, 2026 to be included in the myriad of paid advertising that we invest in for this weekend.

We encourage downtown businesses to decorate their storefronts just in time for the Holiday Parade that’ll make its way through downtown on Saturday, November 21st.

Beginning that Saturday, the community will be able to vote for their favorite display online through Friday, December 4th. The first, second, and third place winners will be announced during Downtown Lancaster’s WinterFest & Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 5th. 

Deadline to sign up: November 13th, 2026.

If you would like to sign up to host Townie for 24 hours, please sign up below.

Townie will make his first appearance on December 1st and will disappear on December 25th to head back to the North Pole until next year.

Dates with the Elf go fast, so don't wait to sign up!

Deadline to sign up: November 13th, 2026 (or when all dates are full).

On December 5th, DDL will host Downtown Lancaster’s WinterFest & Tree Lighting. During this event, there will be free horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday music, a scavenger hunt throughout participating businesses, pictures with Santa, and more!

We are asking businesses to come up with a family activity or offering to provide on the day of the event between 12:00–5:00 pm. This is a great way to showcase your business to potential and returning customers!

Examples of past activities include make-and-take crafts, cookie samples, cookie decorating, coloring pages, discounts, games, etc.

Deadline to sign up: November 13th, 2026.

Our Annual Gathering is quickly approaching, and we’re excited to return to The Mill Event Center for another unforgettable evening celebrating Downtown Lancaster's growth and vibrancy and honoring downtown's finest accomplishments and talent.

The past couple of years have included a live and silent auction, and thanks to your generosity, it has proved a huge success. We’re thrilled to continue it this year to raise funds for Destination Downtown Lancaster and highlight our community's amazing support.

We’re reaching out to our valued members to ask for donations of items, gift cards, or services to feature in the auction. Your contributions make this event possible and directly support our mission to keep downtown thriving. And as a nonprofit, your donation could be tax-deductible!

If you’re able to donate, please fill out the form below and drop items off at our office (128 N. Broad Street) by Friday, January 15th, 2027. Every contribution—big or small—makes a difference, and we’re so grateful for your support. Thank you for helping us make this year’s Annual Gathering one to remember!



Deadline to sign up: January 15th, 2027

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!

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

October 2026 Virtual Trainings

Team Building: Part 1

Oct. 6th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Facebook for Business: Part 1

Oct. 7th, 9:30am - 11:30am

Register Here

Microsoft Office Excel: Part 1

Oct. 8th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Elevate Your Online Presence

Oct. 13th, 10:00am - 11:30am

Register Here

Team Building: Part 2

Oct. 13th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Facebook for Business: Part 2

Oct. 14th, 9:30am - 11:30am

Register Here

Understanding Your Business Financials

Oct. 15th, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Register Here

Microsoft Office Excel: Part 2

Oct. 15th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

The Three Keys to Success

Oct. 19th, 10:00am - 11:30am

Register Here

Basis of a Successful Start (BOSS)

Oct. 20th, 10:00am - 11:30am

Register Here

Team Building: Part 3

Oct. 20th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Microsoft Office Excel: Part 3

Oct. 22nd, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Register Here

Facebook for Business: Part 3

Oct. 28th, 9:30am - 11:30am

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.