Client Chronicles

Barbara Marbain

Eckels Drugstore, Mechanicsburg
$20,000 loan

Barbara MarbainAS ONE OF DOWNTOWN MECHANICSBURG’S HISTORICAL LANDMARKS, ECKELS DRUGSTORE HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY SINCE 1879.

Eckels Drugstore served the community as a pharmacy until 1989.  Barbara Marbain, whose aunt had been the pharmacist for 60 years, took over Eckels in 2004.  Barbara added a museum and restaurant in addition to the infamous soda fountain, which provides ice cream, milk shakes and sundaes.  The store is open for lunch four days a week and has extended hours on Friday evenings, when local musicians play for a full house of guests.  “Many times it’s standing-room only!” remarks Barbara.

Customers frequently tell Barbara how pleased they are that she has preserved the building, and note that it’s like walking back in time.  Eckels’ historical ambiance is well-known; Hollywood came to the Drugstore in 1999 to film a scene for the movie “Girl, Interrupted.”  Barbara is committed to preserving downtowns; she’s an active board member of the Main Street Mechanicsburg Committee.

Project Profile

Business type :
Restaurant & Museum

 

Amount : $20,000

 

Purpose of loan :
Working capital

“My first year as owner of Eckels was quite busy!  A loan from Community First Fund was used as working capital while we renovated the restaurant as well as the apartments upstairs.”

Barbara Marbain, Owner,
Eckels Drugstore