Susan Johnstone

The Lincoln Room, Chester County

$10,000 loan

FOR THE SEVERAL YEARS THAT SUSAN JOHNSTONE WORKED AT THE CHESTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT QUESTIONS ASKED WAS “IS THERE A TEA ROOM NEARBY?”

In 2008, the proprietors of a coffee shop in downtown West Chester decided to sell the business. Susan, a former entrepreneur always looking for the next opportunity, elected to take on the challenge. She opened The Lincoln Room in June 2008.

The Lincoln Room pays tribute to our 16th president whose bid for office was promoted out of the Lincoln Building, as it is called today. While Susan is a plethora of knowledge when it comes to Lincoln, she also knows her community and her niche. She is constantly networking, partnering and finding new ways to expand her business. Her Fondue Fridays are so popular that she has a waiting list. She does historic walking tours in the spring and ghost tours in the fall. Her newest venture is Paws for Tea to be held in neighboring courtyard for patrons and their four-legged friends. Says Susan, “Don’t look back; you can’t be afraid.”.