Nothing “Run of the Mill” on Mill Street
by Cate Murway

“Business is like the river. We’ve watched the tide go out, we’ve watched the tide go in but what always happens, it always goes back in!”   Rosemarie Mignoni Szczucki, [Mignoni Jewelry and Gifts]


Mill Street, the principal commercial street in Bristol by the river, retains a significant degree of the period architecture integrity and permits a glimpse of the character of the town’s past history. With this prime small town ambiance location so near to the SEPTA regional rail line, within two miles of I-95 and the PA Turnpike and less than a mile from PA Route 13, these suitable business sites are mere minutes from Philadelphia and Trenton.

First stop is the Mill Street Pharmacy. Knowledgeable pharmacist and owner, David Byron Cunningham shares, “Business is still growing. There’s a normal slow down in the summer but since September, business is going up!” His cheery, busy store is stocked with school and office supplies and he’s “getting ready for flu season!” Dave has a vested interest in making sure that each experience with Mill Street Pharmacy is a pleasant one.
He is currently working on securing 10-minute parking and handicapped parking spots in front of his store. 
He and his committed team are dedicated to providing personalized care for your health and the health of your family and friends. Mill Street Pharmacy offers free delivery to Grundy Towers and charges only $1.00 for deliveries in the town. There’s always a 10% discount to senior citizens. Next trip in, check out the seasonal section in the front of the store. Don’t forget your “fright light”, a safety flashlight for your “trick or treaters”.

MaryLou Field, BHS Class of ’56, owner of JR Sport Center offers a wide range of services including silkscreen printed garments, uniforms with logos and player numbers, team equipment, coaching supplies, and trophies. MaryLou carries jackets and gym uniforms for most schools. 
“Business is picking up!”
Repaving is starting this week and the construction is “something that needed to be done, so I accept it. They’re not slacking, always working!”
MaryLou can help your athlete be prepared for the rigors of training in soft and comfortable stretch knit warm up suits in “standard school issue” colors.
She continues to attract new customers the way her late husband, Junior did -- through word of mouth and by putting heart and soul into her work, impacting people’s hearts, minds and bodies.

Jeweler Leonard Wilson, owner of Fine Art Jewelry is philosophical about the months and months with the road torn up for a good cause. “Just go through it!” Summer is not the busiest for a jewelry store and the economy is affecting all businesses. He wishes everyone knew that there is a “designing business in town who has been a jeweler for 42 years this spring.” Leonard makes and designs jewelry that captures your character.
“Come see me this Fall!” His hand made exquisite pieces custom designed to your specifications are creations from the imagination to reality! One cannot buy them anywhere else!

GiGi Eapen, owner and chef of Café Bombay, brings India to Bristol Borough. He claims, “Business is getting better after the construction work is finished. The trees are gone and people can see my building!”
The comfortable small BYOB storefront contains a lovely atmosphere and furnishings. GiGi designed a new accent using the long feathers of a peacock, composed of many colors, including crescent sheens of bright blue and green with a design near its tip that resembles an eye.
 His menu features exquisitely prepared, exciting to the palate, various Indian dishes, including plenty of vegetarian options, along with seafood and lamb.
Be primed to add a new dimension to your taste palette!

Kelch House has a wonderful ambiance and staff and offers an imaginative menu. It’s difficult to make just one choice! Chef John continues to provide “intensely prepared foods with no fear in the cooking technique”. The daily innovative  “dining masterpieces” include 3 course specials Tuesday through Friday from $15.00. Share some chocolate cake for dessert...it’s one of a kind! 
A Delaware River and Historic Bristol Wharf view is an added plus and the bar is a fabulous addition. Owner Dawn Kelch invites, “Come in and enjoy a Margarita for only $5.00 on Fridays from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.” 
Reservations are required for the weekends and are highly suggested for the weekdays.

Céad Míle Fàilte! [Irish Gaelic A Hundred Thousand Welcomes]
Carol Mignoni Ferguson of Mignoni Jewelry and Gifts effuses, “We’re very happy about all the wonderful improvements in Bristol. Every time you look down the corner and around this town, it’s just looking great, better than ever. We look forward to the future of it. We look forward to the development down at the wharf area and we’re very excited about all the ventures that will be part of our town.”
New products, like jewelry from Italy and Ireland, keep the store current!
The Mignoni clan is a new distributor of Byers’ Choice collectibles; the hand crafted caroling figures with the feeling of 19th century England. They are one of the few products still made in the USA. Have a "Dickens of a Day"! 

Veronica Evelyn Davidson, owner of Veronica’s Lavish Lathers has added mineral makeup to her offerings. She is composing a starter set of powdered silk [mineral] makeup with foundation, blush and eye shadow with a free black fluffy soft sable Kabuki brush in a reusable vinyl pouch for under $40.00! Veronica custom blends foundation and provides free color matching and makeovers!  Call 215.788.4670 and schedule or just pop in! 

Past Radcliffe Street, the town's most prestigious residential address, the river beckons.
Mike Locke, Truman ‘89 and his wife, Kristin, BC ’89 often walk up and down the river and get ice cream with their sons, Noah and Gabe. This time, their sons’ friend, Dane and their nieces, Heather and Nicole, accompany them. Mike shares that, “I was brought up on the island. We anchored out at night and stayed all weekend on the [Burlington] island.”
His father, Francis Locke, built a mechanical device to wind the signature landmark Grundy Commons clock. 

Langhorne residents, Wallace and Teenie Beatty, enjoy the river and watch the boats and usually complete their Sundays at the concerts. They met at Kaiser Metal Products when Wallace was a “utility person” and Teenie worked in the office. They’ve been married for 54 years, since 9.11.54. Mrs. Beatty said she originally thought she’d never go out with him. Obviously she changed her mind!

Just walking about, “enjoying the beauty of God’s nature” were Sister Concepta, IHM from St. Ephrem Parish and Sister Anne Edward, IHM from Holy Innocence ACES in Philadelphia. They both have enjoyed eating at King George II Inn.

Further in the town, Mary Frances (MaryFran) Theresa Ziegler of Danis’ Deli and catering shared, “We have a lot of new customers and new faces from “word of mouth”. She doesn’t advertise!
Over fifty years and thousands of world famous Dietz & Watson lean meat and flavorful cheese hoagies later, the patrons are still eating and enjoying freshly “secret seasoning” convention oven roasted chicken breasts with real mashed potatoes and blanched [not mushy!] fresh garden vegetables.  
She uses nothing artificial, just fresh and natural ingredients.
Try the delectable turkey club on toasted sour dough bread! 
Pond Street resident, Thomas McDermott, BE ’69, Community development director for Bristol Township, confirms that he comes in for the “Famous Danis” potato salad and the great sandwiches with fresh bread.

Dessert anyone?  Maryanne Carla Lalli, owner of the Cannoli Coffee bar & gelateria is happy to help! She offers much of the artisan [high-up-there gelato, made from scratch] gelato. The experience lies in its consistency! Often improvisational in spirit, the made fresh daily semi-frozen extravagant treat is typically made with fresh fruit or other ingredients such as chocolate (pure chocolate, flakes, chips, etc.), nuts, small confections or cookies, or biscuits. Their special “Fall Flavors” include candy corn, spiced wafer, pumpkin pie and caramel covered green apple. Or warm up with a delicious autumnal latte of pumpkin spice, spice ginger or caramel apple!  
The highly anticipated vampire walk and ghost tours on 10.23.08 and 10.30.08 are sponsored by Cannoli’s.  Only a $10.00 donation to the Bristol Borough Educational Foundation required! Reservations are limited. Call 215.788.8899.

On a crisp Saturday morning, under a crystalline blue sky, Mill Street is dazzling and one can feel the breathe of vitality. The significant development spurt, including redoing water lines and street repaving is interpreting the past and pushing it toward the future.

Would you like your business spotlighted?  
E-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com

Jeweler Leonard Wilson
 Locke family
 Thomas McDermott
Wallace and Teenie Beatty
  Got gelato to go?
enjoying the beauty of God’s nature