Small Town Charm & Nostalgia in Central PA!

For the most part, I feel like small town charm is something reserved for Hallmark films, old timey Christmas movies, and romance novels. This isn’t something that actually *exists* in real life. I mean, maybe 30 years ago…but certainly not today…right?! I long to watch parades and window shop like Ralphie did in A Christmas Story, but have long assumed that it only exists in movie studios.

The closest I’ve ever come to this version of Americana is when Pap & Grandma would load me into their 1959 Mercury Monterey and we’d putter to the Dairy Queen. There, we would eat our soft serve, talk to the people we knew (which was all of them), and watch the cars roll by, many of them also classics, as that was a typical Sunday thing to do. This was circa 1985, and I sure do miss those days!

Well, yesterday gave me a glimmer of hope that those days are not gone with the wind! Imagine my surprise at finding small town charm alive, well, & flourishing in a most unexpected place…Elizabethtown, PA!

For those who don’t know, Elizabethtown is a small town located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It’s a half hour southeast of Harrisburg, the state capital. Rooted in Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, Elizabethtown is now home to a liberal arts college, a Masonic home, & Mars Chocolate North America, a division of Mars, Inc. There is also an Amtrak station there with daily Keystone Service running to both Philadelphia and New York City.

What the Wikipedia search won’t tell you is that it’s also home to Clint & Tony Gibble. This dynamic duo has taken E-town by storm in the past few years, starting with a humble toy store and now double-handedly making E-town both a foodie & retro-head must see travel destination. They are not only the progenitors of three unique shops, they host endless community events, such as Second Fridays, Ice Cream for Breakfast days, open houses, fundraising events, & contests.

The first, and arguably the most auspicious, of the Gibble Trifecta is the Toy Emporium. Located right on the square, the gilded TTG double doors are flanked by adorable nutcrackers and right there, you know you’re about to be immersed into something special.

Everything in this toy store…from the candy scent, to the life sized Deadpool (complete with rainbow unicorn), to the fireworks on the walls…makes this much more than just a *store*; it’s an absolute time capsule in the best way possible. Akin to Disney World, one walks in and immediately feels like a KID again.

I would return over and over again if only for this feeling. Luckily, I don’t have to do that, since I’ll certainly continue to make purchases of some of my favorite toys from the 1980’s & ‘90’s (and beyond!) there. We are talking every imaginable toy, from She Ra to Star Wars and Thundercats…and every conceivable thing in between. It is clear that every single detail was thoughtfully decided upon by true masters of imagination & wizards of childhood splendor.

Ok, I know this is a food blog, so I’ll move along. Clint & Tony’s newest venture – and my personal favorite – is their ice cream shop, named Figments in Sprinkles. The sparkly-whimsical decor is only outdone by the fantastical menu. Oh, and SPRINKLES ARE ALWAYS FREE. These dudes obviously understand me!

The final Gibble Trifecta location is their candy store, The Candy Unicornium. What this store lacks in size, it makes up for in options. I can’t actually think of a candy from 1980 to today they don’t have in this store! Additionally, the selections change with the seasons, giving you a reason to stop in as often as possible. This store is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate; I highly suggest checking out the gummy bar!

With all that candy & ice cream, we were due for some actual food. For that, my suggestion is to head over to Stumpy’s Hot Dog Shack. They offer a slew of unique hot dog creations, as well as burgers, cheesesteaks, fries, soups, and tots. Under new ownership, this diner-inspired spot offers you the opportunity to have a chat while watching your food being made, how cool!

All in all, we spent a wonderful afternoon in Elizabethtown yesterday. Not mentioned above are the FREE oddities museum we went to (if you go, please donate) and coffee shop where I got a lovely Darjeeling tea. We spent about 4 hours meandering up and down Market Street, taking in all of the sights, sounds, & smells. Parking was free and plentiful along the street; we got to chat with more than a few locals and pet some cute dogs too, that’s always a bonus! If you’re looking for a place to spend a Saturday for less than $100.00, I absolutely cannot recommend E-town enough!