Swann's Pantry
This is a grocery store that sells "seconds" or such things as cans that are dented or juice that is only a few days near it's sell by date. This results in an ever changing inventory, but you can get away with some steals at very low prices. They have both off brands and brand names. They also package their own beans, pasta, rice, and candy for discounted prices. In the back of the store you can find holiday decorations or candy molds. If you are looking to save some money, try Swann's Pantry.
J Karen Jewelers
After searching at least a dozen stores to find a ring, I found J Karen Jewelers. Although the shop is a bit smaller than some of the others, their selections tend to be a bit more diversified. They carry a few lines that I had not seen other places. They were able to give a small discount on the price and the sizing was completed in less than two weeks. The staff was extremely helpful and not pushy at all.
Sweet Beginnings Bakery...and Supplies Too!!!
The supplies that you will find at Sweet Beginnings are varied and you will find some that I can not find elsewhere except online. Prices here are extremely reasonable and they have supplies for whatever type of cake, cookie, or candy you are making. The staff is kind and helpful. However, the hours are erratic and twice I showed up during the posted business hours and nobody was there and they did not pick up the phone. If you catch someone there, you won't be sorry you made the trip.
Carriage Hill of Erie
For the location close to Peach Street and downtown, and the quality of the town houses here, the Carriage Hill is a reasonable price. The sound buffering is good and we could only hear a vacuum once in a while. Maintenance requests were prompt and efficient, the public areas were fairly well maintained and snow removal was good as well. These townhomes house a mix of people including college students, families, and singles. Good price for the location and room.
Highland House Apartments
While here, Highland House was a wonderful place to call home. Shortly after moving in, major construction began. They redid all of the balconies which resulted in them being closed for over a year with nothing allowed to be stored on them. Then they started tearing apart the garage. A level or section was closed for the better part of a year, which never really resulted in a parking crush, remarkably. Despite the construction and little inconveniences, the building is well maintained and the staff is caring and friendly.
Cakes Plus
This store has a bit of everything that cake, candy, or cookie makers would need to create a masterpiece. They have luster dusts, marzipans, cookie cutters, cake toppers, candy molds, cake pans, and flavorings, to name a few. This store also prepares cakes for special occasions. The line for their baked goods was packed when I visited. Although they did not have the mint molds I was looking for, they have just about everything else.
BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM
A lovely museum in a pretty setting, this historic looking museum is right on the bank of the Brandywine River. There are a number of rooms that contain the art of many local artists, but that also feature a lot of Wyeth paintings. The cafe here has food if you get hungry and you can always find something interesting in the gift shop. This is convenient to many other area attractions and it sometimes has toy trains, which are a big draw, around the holidays.
Woolwinders
If you are looking for a place to buy a bit more high quality yarns (including wools, cottons, blends, cashmeres, etc.) look no further than woolwinders. They carry some of the best names in knitting and crocheting supplies. All the staff there knit or crochet. There is a large table and a sofa where people come to knit and share ideas and talents. They have an extensive library of books and patterns. The prices are high, but the materials are of high quality and they are very helpful.
