Hatboro Trying To Change Downtown Business Image

HATBORO, PA — It's becoming a running joke whenever officials talk about new businesses coming to the borough.

"How many more nail salons or smoke shops do we need?" residents will post on social media community pages connected to Hatboro.

Borough officials said on Monday that residents "that we all need to do better at supporting" the borough's businesses.

"We are not a borough of just nail salons, hair salons, tattoo parlors, and smoke shops," officials posted on Facebook as part of its Hatboro Happenings column.

Borough officials said the negative comments have deterred some prospective businesses from wanting to set up shop in Hatboro.

"While we are eager and happy to welcome new business, we have been hearing lately from those prospective businesses that when they visit the local social media pages there is a lot of negativities," officials said. "We are challenging you to please be positive, welcome new business, and be supportive."

Officials outlined the numerous businesses that have established themselves.

"We have so many exciting businesses, including many different places to eat, unique shops, a gaming lounge, a hardware store, candy store, kitchen and baking supplies, furniture restoration, winery, brewery, beer store, gun store, lumber yard, concrete manufacturing, a place who makes uniforms for sports team, the same place that makes our kids school jackets, every father's dream - A John Deere dealership, I could go on," officials said.

Officials said they see the comments with many people complaining about what the borough does not offer ven though it does.

" We often hear about Ambler, Doylestown, and Phoenixville. Do any of these towns have a restaurant in the middle of a scrap yard?" officials said about one business.

Officials touted the Steel Penny Cafe, a unique place to get coffee, sandwiches, pizza, and cocktails.

So about those nail salons? Borough officials had this to say:

"Speaking of nail salons, there are a few yes, but these businesses are open, some seven days a week, but the others are open six days a week, there are none that are only open five days a week. These businesses — like the hair salons — are busy, they offer something that we cannot get online. Many are tenured businesses; they would not be if they were not busy."