Meets Chef Vendors and is Updated on Construction Plans for Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities
Lancaster, PA – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro toured Southern Market Lancaster’s globally-inspired food hall on Wednesday, May 22 as part of his administration’s Great American Getaway, a weeklong statewide RV tour to promote tourism across Pennsylvania and to encourage the tens of millions of people who live within a few hours drive to visit Pennsylvania.
After launching the new state tourism brand on May 20, Governor Shapiro and the First Family boarded an RV to tour 14 counties visiting businesses to promote Pennsylvania destinations and showcase all the Commonwealth has to offer. The Southern Market food hall was included in the tour as a new, exciting Lancaster City gathering space and culinary venue making it a favorite not only for locals, but also as a tourist getaway destination.
Southern Market, designed by renowned Lancaster architect C. Emlen Urban, and built in 1888, is operated by Willow Valley Communities. The food hall has 13 chef vendors, each serving their own special menu at individual stations in an open food hall atmosphere that serves as a business incubator for those with a culinary craft. At Southern Market, the chefs get support, training, and experience that may help them to open their own restaurant or catering business in the future. If that happens, another up-and-coming chef can take their place.
During his visit, Governor Shapiro was escorted by Brian T. Rutter, Chief Marketing Officer for Willow Valley Communities, and was introduced to several of the chefs including Ron Buitrago of Mekatos Eatery and Matt Shultz of Pizzeria 211. Governor Shapiro learned how Southern Market has given them the opportunity to change their lives by offering a platform to start their own businesses. The governor sampled a slice of pizza as Shultz told him that Southern Market was helping “make my dreams come true.”
During the tour, Governor Shapiro was also shown a scale model of Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities, a 20-story high-rise for 55+ active adults to be constructed across the street from Southern Market. Rutter explained that Mosaic, along with Southern Market, is part of a four-corner revitalization at the pivotal intersection of Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City that local officials are calling transformational. Mosaic will be constructed on the site of the former LNP (Lancaster newspaper) print production building.
“Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities is its next generation of residences, not on the existing campuses, but instead in Lancaster City. It is a high-rise apartment community soaring to 20 stories. Featuring exclusively independent living, but with the assurance of Willow Valley Communities’ Lifecare, there will be 146 apartments and a host of premier amenities. Mosaic will be unlike any other 55+ residential community in the region,” added Rutter.
