In the News

Popular ‘Makers Market’ event at central Pa. shopping center to be replaced with permanent tenant
Daniel Urie, Staff Writer, PennLive
Feb. 05, 2025

The Shops @Rockvale is replacing its popular “Makers Market” event with a similar concept that will be available daily.
The shopping center has been hosting the monthly Makers Market event for the last six years. It started out in a 5,000-square-foot space to host 30 vendors, but it grew into three separate spaces, with 9,000 square feet, hosting more than 70 vendors and food trucks. By 2021, event moved into one large space. Live music, additional entertainment and multiple food trucks were added.

“The goal with the Maker’s Markets events was to keep the community invested in the future plans of Rockvale, draw the locals and tourists together and give local talented makers a reasonable and organized event to promote their small businesses,” said Kristi Burkholder, commercial property manager at the Shops @Rockvale. “To say the least, we were successful with all of our objectives, always had an amazing turnout, became a monthly destination for visitors and watched many small businesses thrive.”

“The support from the community and the growth of small businesses have been the most rewarding key successes,” Burkholder continued. “In the past six years, we have worked with over 750 local makers/artisans and over 50 food trucks and beverage vendors.”

There’s no need to worry for those who took part in the monthly event because a new business will host a similar shopping environment on a daily basis.

Artisan Mill Co. is opening in the same space as Makers Market in suite 1709 near the Eagles Pro Shop and the Disney Store. The vendor marketplace will include the work of more than 100 local artists, makers, and curators selling handmade, vintage and curated goods under one roof in a more than 15,000-square-foot space. It will be open six to seven days a week.
A grand opening event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 3. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 9:45 a.m.

This will be the company’s second location. Artisan Mill Co. operates a 6,500-square-foot space throughout three floors in a mill building from 1881 in the Lititz area.

The Shops @ Rockvale is currently being redeveloped and will include housing. Fernmoor Homes’ redevelopment plan includes 480 apartments — 15 four-story buildings with 32 apartments. The buildings will include a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. The housing area will include a “Central Green” in the middle of the residential area as well as a clubhouse, fitness center, an outdoor pool, dog park and pickleball courts.

Fernmoor officials are tearing down more than 270,000 square feet of retail space and replacing it with the multi-family residential apartment buildings. So far a 79,000-square-foot building has been demolished.

The shopping center relocated retailers from the spaces that are set for demolition to the more than 300,000 square feet of existing retail buildings that will remain. Fernmoor also plans to remodel the remaining commercial buildings as well. Bicycling and walking paths are planned throughout the property.

The Shops @Rockvale is located at 35 S. Willowdale Drive in East Lampeter Township and has more than 30 tenants including seven restaurants. MainStreet Urgent Care is expected to open at the shopping center in late 2025.

The shopping center recently installed eight electric vehicle charging stations — four ports located between Sushi Heaven and Olive Garden, and four ports located between Cracker Barrel & Carter’s.