Lewisburg costume shop to close after flood

Daily Item (Sunbury, PA)

Jan. 17--LEWISBURG -- A busted pipe flooded Ben's Costume Closet, leading owner Ben Hartman to close the shop.

The flooding occurred in late November inside the shop at Lamp Post Lane, a group of shops below the former CVS building at Market and Third streets. Hartman assessed damages and on Sunday, took to the business's Facebook page to announce the closure.

"The water that flooded, even though it looked and smelled clean, was technically classified as sewage," Hartman told The Daily Item. "Obviously, any costumes it touched were ruined."

Hartman said he will continue to rent costumes and schedule appearances from his home for the likes of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and will continue Gorillagrams, where a costumed delivery person brings candy or gifts to a loved one. Arrangements can be made through the Facebook page and the phone number listed there will remain active, he said.

The flooding compounded what Hartman described as slow business at the shop. Hartman relocated the shop from Sunbury in 2017. He was enticed by greater foot traffic and a more vibrant downtown. However, Hartman said his business actually fared better in Sunbury.

Also, Hartman is now a full-time math teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, Coal Township. It's his first year there.

Though Hartman said landlord Gary Peck responded immediately and quickly repaired the plumbing and floors and cleaned the space, the loss of costumes plus the slow business and new career forced his hand. Hartman said he is insured for damages.

Peck said carpeting was replaced with tile and baseboard, moulding and some drywall was also replaced. No other tenants closed as a result of the flooding, he said.

"Obviously, I would have preferred to do it on my own terms but the timing was very good," Hartman said. "It would take six to eight months to get it up and running."

"Why put a ton of work into reopening a struggling business?" Hartman asked.

Costumes spared from the flooding are temporarily stored in the RiverStage Community Theatre's portion of the GreenSpace Center at Routes 15 and 45, Hartman said. He's currently selling off some of the stock.

Ben's Costume Closet is the second business located at the building at Third and Market streets to announce its closure. Urban Post moved its business online last month as part of a restructuring for its essential oils business.

Ellen Ruby, executive director, Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, wasn't aware the costume shop was closing. She said the circumstances between the two businesses leaving the downtown were quite different.

"The reason Urban Post closed is because their business took off in another direction. We're thrilled for her and her business," Ruby said of Stacey Martin.

"It is not abnormal to see businesses come and go in a downtown. We're sorry to see anyone choose to close their doors in downtown Lewisburg, but it's always an opportunity for someone else," Ruby said.

The salon Untangled Too at 204 Market St. closed last month. The Northumberland location remains open, according to the business's Facebook page. A stylist from Untangled, Stefanie Carter, will open Renascent Salon at 15 Stein Lane, Lewisburg, in the coming weeks.

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