Joyce Gibbel Gifts in the Lancaster Shopping Center and Heavenly Collectibles in Quarryville will close sometime after the Christmas shopping season.

With 51 years in business, the roughly 2,400-square-foot Joyce Gibbel store at 1637 Lititz Pike is the only remaining original store at Lancaster Shopping Center, which opened in 1958 as the area's first strip shopping center.

"Barring a miracle from above, I don't see keeping it open," said Chip Rush, owner of both stores. "I'd have to win the lottery or something."

The store sells general gift and high-end items, including candles, cards and figurines. It was started by Joyce Gibbel Biemesderfer and owned and operated for the last eight years by Rush.

Heavenly Collectibles, a similar store, covers 3,800 square feet at 128 Townsedge Drive.

"The economy has just been killing us," Rush said.

Both stores are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Thrift shop opens

The Gathering Place, a nonprofit organization that supports people with HIV/AIDS, opened The Price is Right $hop thrift store Monday in part of its warehouse at 440 Pershing Ave.

Sale items at the roughly 3,900-square-foot store include clothing, house wares and children's toys. A section dedicated to selling furniture will open soon. Proceeds benefit the Gathering Place, which was founded by Bob and Melanie Lewis.

Store hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Cell store opens

Also at Lancaster Shopping Center, Cellular Connection opened in July at 1695B Lititz Pike. The 1,557-square-foot store offers wireless phones, accessories and services from Verizon Wireless.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Brew store opens

Mr. Steve's HomeBrew Supplies, which has a store in York, opened a location in Lancaster Aug. 29. The new store is at 3043 Columbia Ave. in the Western Corner Shopping Plaza.

The 2,000-square-foot store, near Route 462 and Centerville Road, carries supplies and ingredients for making beer and wine. Owner Steve Stoppard said he caters to new brewers and will offer free workshops on various techniques.

Stoppard used to have a Lancaster store near Dillerville Road, but he closed it about seven years ago.

Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Café renovated

The Brick House Café and Restaurant, 60 N. Main St., Manheim, re-opened in July after renovations. Work over a six-month period added new counters, floors and a new kitchen. The work also put in some new seating, giving the café room for about 50.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

E-mail: cumble@lnpnews.com or 397-3674