Tompkins Weekly

Downtown Ithaca welcomes new additions to Commons


Tompkins Weekly Staff

Tompkins Weekly Staff

ITHACA – Three new businesses have officially opened – well, for business – on Ithaca’s Commons.
Cayuga Coins, Willow and Escape Ithaca were all welcomed to Ithaca by Downtown Ithaca Alliance and city officials with ceremonies at each location.
“These three businesses illustrate how the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well here in Ithaca,” said DIA Executive Director Gary Ferguson in a prepared statement. “Whether it be coins, women’s clothing, or entertainment, the owners of these new businesses are showing us that downtown is a great place for businesses to grow their dreams.”

Cayuga Coins, owned by Trumansburg resident Rob Lisk, is located on the bottom level of the Dewitt Mall and actually opened for business in early fall. It offers the opportunity for people to buy or sell rare and valuable U.S. or foreign currency and stamps, and purchase supplies for coin and stamp collecting hobbies.
“Ithaca really needs this store. There’s a lot of collectors and they love the history behind the coins and the history told by the coins,” Lisk said in a prepared statement. “I love the history, too, so I feel this was a good thing to move this business forward.”
Lisk was an antique dealer prior to purchasing the coin shop; Frank Anderson serves as his assistant, and he has extensive knowledge about foreign coins, Lisk added. Cayuga Coins, formerly Harold’s Coins, was previously owned by Harold L. Benjamin Jr. who died unexpectedly this past summer. For more information about Cayuga Coins, call (607) 277-3301.

Willow, located at 111 W. MLK Jr./State St., is downtown’s latest women’s clothing and accessories boutique. Many of the fashions sold at the store are dedicated to social good, including American-made, fair trade and eco-friendly products. A variety of scented lotions along with jewelry and other accessories are also available.
Laura Bishop, from Homer, is the shop owner. She has a degree in fashion marketing from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and 10 years of retail experience, including four years of managing a store in Cortland.
“I’m excited to be here. The local love and support has been amazing,” Bishop said in a prepared statement. “There is a lot of wonderful clothing and other items in the store, so I encourage everyone to visit and do some shopping here.”
For additional information about Willow, call the store at (607) 319-4935, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WillowIthaca, or follow the store on Instagram @willowIthaca.

Escape Ithaca, a two-room establishmen wedged between State Theatre and Willow on West MLK Jr./State Street, is the city’s first interactive, immersive puzzle game. Filled with riddles, gadgets, and mind tricks, the mysteries behind Escape’s doors will challenge guests and their teammates to 60 minutes of isolation where problem-solving, creativity and resourcefulness are the only skills that will set them free.
Escape Ithaca’s mission is to create educational experiences that foster creativity, team building, and human ingenuity. The entire theme, display, and experience at Escape will be designed for a unique educational experience – packaged in an entertaining format, said Ray Weaver, an Ithaca resident who co-owns the business with Jim Potocki from New York City.
“It’s been an incredible and fun journey so far,” Weaver said in a prepared statement. “We’ve had between 300 to 400 customers already come through the room, and they’ve said that they loved their experience.”
At Escape Ithaca, a new puzzle is developed every three to six months, so guests may never experience the same adventure twice. Escape Ithaca’s new room, “Escape the Abominable Snowman,” opened just two weeks ago.

 

 

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