ORWIGSBURG - Two sisters originally from the borough have opened an ice cream and chocolate shop on East Market Street.
Janelle Carper, 37, of Manheim, Lancaster County, and Tina Cinamella-Geiger, 39, of Orwigsburg, decided they wanted to take their lives in another direction and bring something to the borough they thought others would like.
Twisted Sisters Ice Cream and Handmade Chocolates, 217 E. Market St., opened April 26. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. today. The festivities will include games for children and giveaways. The shop will be open until 9 p.m.
Cinamella-Geiger said she has been making chocolates for about 10 years and mostly give them away as gifts to family and friends.
The sisters took a walk around the borough last year and decided it would be a great place to open a shop.
"I absolutely love our town," Cinamella-Geiger said.
They looked at the 1,100-square-foot building in October and signed the lease in January.
Deciding to open a chocolate and ice cream shop was an easy decision, Cinamella-Geiger said.
"Our town has nothing like it," she said.
The ice cream served at the shop is Leiby's. Cinamella-Geiger said there are 16 hard flavors and three soft flavors - chocolate, vanilla and twist. The hard ice cream flavors, including cappuccino chunk, salty caramel and teaberry, will change on a weekly basis, Cinamella-Geiger said.
Traditional cake, sugar and waffle cones will also be available.
Cinamella-Geiger said she makes the chocolate by hand. Some of the treats she makes are chocolate-covered pretzels, dark chocolate with cranberry clusters.
She said they try to keep prices reasonable for customers. A kids cone is $1 and includes one scoop of ice cream. A single dip with two scoops costs $1.75 and a double dip with three scoops is $2.50.
Other ice cream choices include floats, sundaes and special local creations, such as the Eagle Berry Float, which is made of blue raspberry soda and vanilla ice cream. The float is available in honor of those graduating from Blue Mountain High School. It will also be available during football season.
The shop also sells candy, chips and drinks, such as Gatorade and Guers products.
Borough Manager Mike Lonergan is thankful another business has opened downtown.
"I'm very happy to see another business in the community. The ladies have identified a need and are seeking to fulfill it," he said.
Lonergan has said he has visited the shop and enjoyed the ice cream.
"The response has been overwhelming," Cinamella-Geiger said.
Summer hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Hours on Sundays are not set, but the shop will be open.