I don't want to sound critical, just curious, but does anyone else believe that the fact that both operated at peculiar hours was a detriment to business?

Well said, Walter. It takes a lot of work ,but also commitment to run any small business. My hat is always off to anyone who takes the risk, and my kudos to Carrol, Becky and Jana for sticking with it for as long as they did.

Brent, you have a valid point. Owning a business is a commitment. To make it successful you must be open when the customers want it, not just when it is convenient.

Walter Biller says that we lack an anchor store in that area. Perhaps we could use an anchor store between Vancheries and Jana's perhaps in the vacant building on Franklin Street. You know, the building left vacant when Walter Biller moved his business out of the Downtown Business District.

Patch has determined these are two of Havre de Grace's best of businesses. These surveys, answered by friends and families state: "This is not a scientific poll." Do not believe everything you read on the Patch.

It is always a shame to see businesses close. However, we still have a great coffee shop in Java by the Bay on North Washington Street. They have just expanded their hours to Sundays. We have a new Specialty Bake Shop opening on the corner of Washington and Congress Avenue. We have Joe Smiths new store. Joseph's is reopening on Wednesday following remodeling. The Toy Store is doing well.

Two businesses are closing. One had very limited and odd hours. The other had, at best, marginal food and service. Let's look forward to seeing what comes next for these valuable storefronts

Honestly you are right a lot of problems with those places were the hours but Jana's was a hobby for her and she did it for the people and she has a full time job on top of everything and the people who helped her and worked their did it on a volunteer basis and had jobs of their own M-F.
Where is Vancherie's Union Avenue Cafe their problem was more the location and the building the place itself could be freezing in the winter and muggy in the summer. But honestly I would have never known Vancheries was there if I hadn't walked around town they didn't publicize it enough especially the fact they were open on Mondays and most of the town is shut down. The place also became a rotating door of characters that includes the employees and a few of the regulars. My biggest problem is the food was inconsistant. But I wish them luck with the catering and the Lantern Queen because those were always the bread winners for them.

Vancherie's was my favorite place to eat in Havre de Grace. I'm very sad to see it go.

Anchor businesses do not fit in 1,400 square-foot storefronts, Reality. WB

I'm sad to see Vancheries go to but I'm kind of pissed. Its cool that they're making enough money with their other business but the place did have so much potential. They didnt even really announce their close. I brought a friend over there from WAY out of state and there was just some close sign. We just stood there, said "Uh" and went back home.

They shoulda stuck with it, spent some extra money anddid something with the place. In the long run, the money spent probably would have brought more profit for the future. I mean as an "out of state new jersyian" I'm use to big diners. The vancheries was the best place in town. An outsider maygonna look at the bridge diner and pass it.

My silly phone. Continue! An outsider may look at the bridge diner and pass it. I'm not angry about the vancheries closing. I'm just irratated that I cant get food there now, haha. Besides the bridge diner, where is a person suppose to go who doesnt have a lot of money?

Vancherie's closing is no shocker to me.

Jana's Java is a HUGE loss to the downtown area though, and I am sad to see it go. I would LOVE to get some investors and reopen it. Java by the Bay...not a "great" coffee shop by any of my standards, I will go to DD before I go there!

No "Anchor Store" would fit into any available storefront in the retail area downtown, the closest building large enough with parking to accomodate is the building that had previously housed Save a Lot, and just like vacant buildings in the retail area, the buildings aren't maintained by owners and have deteriorated for example: "thrift gift" "glamour beauty salon" and "advanced electronics" all in the 100 block of Washington. The eyesore that is the former hardware store across from the Laurrapin......

Why put a business into the downtown area full of rundown buildings? It makes no sense! You cant blame people for choosing a shopping center vs downtown.

The town should force the property owners to make repairs/improvements. And Havre de Grace Main Street Association should back the town and then recruit new business.......to me thats effective revitalization!

What we need to do is figure out how to make the Havre de Grace Main Street itself an "anchor" or more like a MAGNET, and help the wonderful businesses that are there now gain strength and wisdom in collaborating. I encourage any interested business owners to come to our meetup on Sunday, August 5, 7pm. It's the first monthly meeting of the Creative Entrepreneurs of Harford and Cecil Counties, and we're looking forward to brainstorming ways to collaborate and share experiences, increase our visibility, and prosper. http://www.meetup.com/The-Creative-Entrepreneurs-of-Harford-Cecil-County/

As an ex-resident of Havre de Grace; I owned an art gallery at 215 North Union Avenue, that I was also forced to closed due to lack of tourist traffic in town. It is very sad to see this most beautiful, Victorian, all American town that has so much potential to struggle the way it does, and to see shops down town closing due to lack of tourist traffic. I have taken it upon myself to publish a photo journal of Havre de Grace titles: HAVRE DE GRACE PHOTO ALBUM, through Schffer Publishing Ltd, that includes the every day lives of the town's people, restaurants, churches, recreational parks, museums, bed and breakfasts establishments a golf course, festivals, and a lot more. This book can be very instrumental in the tourist trade and economic development of Havre de Grace. Since its publication I have tried so very hard to bring to the attention of City Hall officials, economic developers, shop owners, bed and breakfasts establishments and every one in town that is concerned with the economic development of Havre de Grace, that this book once promoted through their channels and the tourist office, it can improve their economic situation, but to no avail. My letters, e-mails, and phone calls has been met with silence. It is incomprehensible to see such apathy.

Does anyone out there have any thoughts, suggestions ?
e-mail: greco.kalas89@gail.com

HAVRE DE GRACE PHOTO ALBUM
ISBN # 978-0-7643-2863-3
Publisher: Schiffef Publishing Ltd

www.amazon.com/-/e/B008LH9D70

To Jessica Kaley: perhaps you can ask the shop owners, City Hall officials, tourist board, chamber of commerce, and every one that is concerned with the lack of tourist traffic at your meeting, why they have shown such apathy of not responding to my letters, e-mails when I am offering them this publication HAVRE DE GRACE PHOTO ALBUM Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd, that can improve the tourist trade and economic development of HdG by opening the door to tourism, create tourist traffic down town, and stop this vicious cycle of having your shops being closed. As an ex-resident of HdG, I closed my gallery for the same reason; no tourist traffic, so I have taken in upon myself to publish this visual journal of HdG to bring the tourist in. I am not doing this for the money as I am only getting .64 cents per copy when sold, I am doing this because I love HdG and I can see the town has so much potential if only officials take it serious of stopping your shops being closed, and HdG become a dead town afterwards.