Horsham 'Guardians' Watch Over Resting Places

When a Horsham couple lost their jobs last year, they started a business delivering flowers and tributes and offering a little TLC to area grave sites.

  When Julie Marsella and her husband Tony lost their jobs in the fall of 2011, bouncing back with a business of sorts that had grown from "personal interest" was a no-brainer. It was not uncommon for one or both of the Marsellas to frequent cemeteries in Springfield, Bensalem, Warminster or Warrington to pay tribute to their loved ones at their final resting places.  But, getting the Marsellas' Beloved Guardians off the ground has proven to be a bit challenging. The beneficiaries of the couple's work can not thank them, recommend their services, or book them for additional work. "You don’t want to be an ambulance chaser," Julie Marsella said.  Tony Marsella, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who had worked in sales for 20 years prior to losing …

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Shop Local on Small Business Saturday

Just what is Small Business Saturday and why should you support it in Bensalem?

  Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves. What about those mom-and-pop businesses all over Bensalem and beyond that are the backbone of America’s economy? Just when do they get their day? That’s basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born. Small Business Saturday is “a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities,” the U.S. Small Business Administration explains on its website. American Express gets the credit for founding the shopping holiday, which got its official start on Nov. 27, 2010, according to the Small Business Saturday Facebook page. Celebrating its third …

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Bensalem High Graduate Makes It Big With A Twist

Dan DiZio is the president of Philly Pretzel Factory.

Dan DiZio admits he wasn't exactly cutting the mustard all the time while attending Bensalem Public Schools. But his time away from the classroom, spent along Roosevelt Boulevard in Philly, led him to making a lot of dough, both figuratively and literally. DiZio, a 1990 BHS grad, is the president of Philly Pretzel Factory, the largest Philly-style pretzel bakery with more than 100 franchises and 1,700 employees. DiZio started selling pretzels for Kensington Soft Pretzel Factory when he was 11 years old. "It was like an internship," he said. "The owner set me up on the corner of Rhawn and The Boulevard. "Whatever I sold I'd split 50-50. I was on Roosevelt Boulevard every day -- every weekend and after schools. "In middle school my principal…

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Vacancy

What Would You Like to See Go Here?

We are asking the community its opinion on empty stores. Here's your chance to express your views.

There are four empty stores in a row in the Brookwood Shopping Center just dying for new businesses to move in. The vacant properties previously held the following stores: Ink Stop, Save-a-Lot, Dollar Tree and Old Country Buffet. The shopping center, located at Street and Hulmeville roads, currently holds stores such as Big Kmart, GNC, Lee’s Hoagie House, China Sun, T-Mobile and more. Also located at the intersection are Bensalem Beer & Soda, McDonald’s and Fisher’s Tudor House. According to signs posted at the vacant storefronts, anyone interested in leasing the stores should contact Sandee Brown at 215-244-5148 or sbrown@kormancommercial.com. We were hoping to get the public's opinion on what should go here. What do you want to see in …

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T.B.

9:00 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

A local Trader Joe's would be amazing. Their products are amazing and the prices are reasonable. PLUS that type of store would likely help out the entire plaza. If a Trader Joe's doesn't work out, it would be great to have a workout franchise move into the space. The negative about having a pawn shop move in is that pawn shops tend to bring a lot of undesirables to the area as well.   more ›

Readers' Choice

Patch Poll: Best Hoagie

What’s your favorite?

They are known as many things throughout the country. Some call them heroes; other refer to them as submarines; and to others they are po’ boys. But in Philly and the surrounding area, we call them hoagies and that’s the topic of this week’s Readers’ Choice Patch Poll. Who’s got the best hoagie? There are plenty of places to choose from, including: J & M Deli, Hoagie Kitchen, Lee’s Hoagie House, Jack’s Cold Cuts, Belly Busters, Stefanos, Wawa, Apollo's, Subway, Vincenzo's, Primo's or Rainbow Market. Vote for your favorite spot in the poll below by this Friday at 9 a.m. and don't forget to click on the links above and rate the restaurant on its Patch Place listing. You can even leave a review. If there another hoagie joint that we missed in…

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Jim Smith

10:56 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012

There are plenty of places to get a good Hoagie in Bensalem. If you don't make a good hoagie, you are soon out of the hoagie business. My vote goes a little deeper, looking at the people who run the places, or own them. Pete, at Apollo's, is one of the nicest people you would ever get to deal with. When I spend my hard earned money, I like seeing it go to support a place owned by good people. …   more ›

Bensalem Business Expo Deemed a Success

The April 21 expo brought local residents, officials and the business community together.

The Bensalem Business Association (BBA), a non-profit organization aimed at promoting Bensalem businesses, held its first annual expo on Saturday, April 21 at Parx East. BBA President Pondeli Hajioannou called the expo a big success. He explained that he expected about 20 businesses to reserve tables at the expo, but ended up with about 40 businesses. “What do you call an event that you planned and had 100 percent more activity than you expected?” he asked. Being the group’s first such event Hajioannou said they just “wanted to get their feet wet.” He wasn’t sure what to expect, but in the end he was pleased. He said hundreds of individuals attended the event and learned what local businesses have to offer. The expo was also a great place …

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Home Health Company Opens Local Office

The company expects the opening of Bensalem to create hundreds of jobs.

Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services is opening its an office at 3331 Street Road in Bensalem to service all of Bucks County. It will be Preferred’s second location in Pennsylvania. “We are excited to continue our expansion in Pennsylvania,” Preferred COO Jonathan Herman said. “This new location will complement our Bala Cynwyd office while expanding our geographic coverage to service even more families.” Preferred expects the opening of Bensalem to create hundreds of jobs, helping to bolster local employment. “We are actively hiring nurses and home health aides looking for employment opportunities in our area,” said Kendall Stamerro, manager of the Bensalem office. “This will allow us to offer workers consistent employment, while …

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Chamber to Hold Seminar for Businesswomen

Career Women on the Move - “Put Your Best High Heel Forward” is being held at the Bensalem Country Club on May 15.

On May 15, the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce is holding a seminar in Bensalem especially for businesswomen. The event, Career Women on the Move - “Put Your Best High Heel Forward,” will feature two special presenters. Image consultant Meg Kristel, of Kristel Closets, will combine real life advice and practical solutions with her trademark humor and disarming nature to help us create our best first impressions. The keynote speaker, Kim Woodworth - Regional VP, Comcast Spotlight, Eastern Division, will present “Essentials for Success in Business and in Life.” Kim is the author of a 7 book children's series Today I Can. She has also written I am a Grateful Woman and co-authored the book, 6 Essentials for Success in Business and Life…

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Bridal Salon A Longtime Dream For Owner

The Country Bride and Gent a longtime success in Bensalem.

Trish Burkholder always knew she wanted to own a bridal store. "As a little girl I was fascinated and infatuated by bridal gowns and accessories and everything that went into it," said the King of Prussia native. "I remember watching the wedding of Tricia Nixon in the Rose Garden and I thought it was the most romantic event." Today, Trish and husband Ed own two bridal stores -- The Country Bride and Gent in Bensalem and the Lansdale area. Their sales volume -- in helping couples with their weddings and proms -- puts them in the top 10 percent of independent bridal stores in the country. Trish earned a degree in marketing and business, with an emphasis in fashion merchandising, from the University of Dayton. She started her retail career as…

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Pondeli Hajioannou

8:05 am on Friday, April 27, 2012

My wife and I used them when we got married and had a great experience with them.   more ›