This is a genuinely nice person, we thought, as we began a conversation with LuAnn Henny; she is the owner of recently opened Dollar Castle PLUS,  a variety store, located in the 400-block of Locust Street in Columbia. LuAnn is one of those countless nice people who really care about Columbia and the people who live here.

Having grown up in Columbia, the Union Street resident, sees a need “to help the people of Columbia.” Her eyes glisten when she recalls the vibrant downtown shopping environment of some years ago. Today, she believes that “people in Columbia want more downtown stores … clothing stores, shoe stores, other stores.” She says a lot of people have been coming into her store since the opening and have thanked her for opening.

“I really want to help people; once we get the store fully stocked we’re really going to do business the right way. Columbia’s a poor town; once we get this store up and running the way I want to and we start making money, I want to help out.” she said. But knowingly, she continued, “You gotta’ make money to spend money.” It is an old-fashioned belief, but LuAnn knows about fiscal discipline.

LuAnn has watched and experienced the ups and downs of operating a retail business. She has worked in retail stores and, with the urging of a friend, she “opened a store in E-town, but I didn’t do my homework.” She made the business decision to close that business after several bad months. The decision to open the Locust Street store included some of the “lessons learned.” For instance, rent in Columbia is less expensive and she has done assessment on the number of people who rely on downtown services because they do not drive. She’s done her homework and registered the business with the Pennsylvania Department of State and she’s got the requisite sales tax license.

Customers have been coming into the Dollar Castle PLUS at an increasing pace; “business has been steady with better “Customer traffic between two and six in the afternoon.” The store carries a selection of household products, paper goods, food items (for people and pets), greeting cards and the best prices on inflated balloons. LuAnn’s price for an inflated balloon is only a dollar plus tax. She added, “Parents are going to want to spend less for balloons than some of the other places that charge $4.00 (or more).”

She observed that street vendors selling balloons at some of Columbia’s outdoor events “charge way more than we do.” LuAnn and her entourage of family and a few friends have coordinated their work schedules to make sure that the store’s hours are inviting and accommodating for her Customers.

Dollar Castle PLUS is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm – Saturday, 9:00 am to 7 pm and Sunday, 10:00 to 5:00 pm. Stop in to see what’s in the store this week. Stop in to say “Hi!” Stop in to support a “genuinely nice person” trying to bring a store to Columbia.