Small businesses are finding a home in Perkasie, ‘America’s Hometown’

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Perkasie Borough is enjoying enviable revitalization in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic by welcoming new businesses to its downtown.

Known for its down-home friendly feel and engagement with its business and residential communities and despite Covid-19, economic uncertainty and concerns over a safe in-person school year, “America’s Hometown” lives its reputation by continuing to attract new business start-ups and relocations to set up shop.

“You’re kind of lost when you’re starting out,” said Alice Krier, co-owner of Mystic Ways Brewing Company, at 510½ Walnut Street, which is set to open in early 2021. “You’re worried about the property and thinking of other things. It felt like everyone involved [with our new businesses] has our back.”

Krier, of Montgomery County, said she looked at a lot of towns and Perkasie was a perfect fit. She is excited that Mystic Ways will be part of the expanding downtown landscape, and the biggest challenge of opening a business during coronavirus was timing and delays. 

She looks forward to meeting and collaborating with her new restaurant neighbors, too, as coronavrius restrictions permit.

From banking introductions and loans to property sourcing – Krier looked at a dozen properties with the help of Stephen Barth, owner of Barth Consulting Group in Doylestown and Perkasie’s economic development consultant.

Krier owns the business with family members and already feels like part of the Perkasie business community. 

Barth said Perkasie’s approach to the challenges created by the pandemic has been active and unique. He said early in the process borough officials anticipated and created a plan to troubleshoot issues before problems occurred.

“We have a lot of assets, and we repurposed and reimaged how they could be used,” Barth said. 

Borough officials made equipment normally used at its community swimming pool compound such as commercial grade tables, chairs and umbrellas available to restaurant owners for sidewalk and parking lot dining. It’s provided park space for a yoga studio and karate classes, so those businesses can operate safely.

“We took a pragmatic approach [about] what do people need. They [borough officials] asked the question ‘what can we do to help, and what can we do today,’” Barth said.

He views his role as providing a “concierge” service to business recruiting and retention – something Barth provided long before the advent of Covid-19. “We’ve actively promoted and courted investment in the community, [and] we’ve been busy throughout this pandemic,” Barth explained.

Here’s what worked during the coronavirus for Perkasie Borough:

• Immediately set up meetings to determine what could be done to assist residents and business owners during the crisis.
• Promoted Bucks County grants of up to $25,000 to businesses – 11 Perkasie business owners received grant funding. 
• Promoted the downtown through remote video chats and interviews with current business owners – keeping businesses in front of prospects and customers.
• Voted to reduce all electric rates across the board to residents and business customers by 50 percent. (Perkasie owns and operates its own electric utility.)
• Made electric bill relief possible from grant funding for roads.
• Created a grass-roots contacting network and regularly called businesses throughout the initial shutdown to “check in.”
• Provided links and guideline assistance regarding federal stimulus money and economic support programs such as EIDL and PPP.
• Helped create proposals and narrative authorship to apply for funding.
• Assisted retailers who had closed brick and mortar locations to move to online platforms for sales. 

“They [business owners] had an advocate to help them maintain their businesses, and they did not feel alone. It’s not enough to say you support local businesses, you have to do it,” Barth said.

Perkasie newcomer Lindsay Cerdas opened Perkasie Dental Loft, her first solo dental practice June 30. She is on the second floor of the Perkasie Town Hall Building at 620 W. Chestnut Street. Cerdas said timing and delays were the biggest challenges in opening her new business; however, coronavirus added a new layer of complexity to her professional practice. 

“Not only was I opening a business, but now I am now learning dentistry in a different way. A lot of businesses are running their businesses in a way they never imaged,” Cerdas said.

Originally from Bangor, Northamptom County, Cerdas said she loved the look and feel of Perkasie during scouting trips for her practice location.

“I loved the tradition (tree lighting) and small town feel, where small businesses and the community was growing and it really drew me to the area,” she said. “I picked the town was because of that welcoming. I knew wanted to be here.” 

Because of earlier lockdown restrictions and health care mandates in delivering dental care Cerdas expects to ramp up services quickly as patients seek providers closer to where they live. “There is a three month backlog [that was] essentially neglected because we could not practice,” she said.

She currently sees patients in Perkasie part time on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and expects to expand to full-time operations soon.