TheBurg

11.19 | theburgnews.com | 47 Building Character is a contemporary marketplace that sells recycled, re-purposed and handmade items. Inventory changes often. Have your coffee in one hand and keep your other hand free. Pick through vintage dishes (I bought dessert plates, then proudly displayed them heaped with iced birthday cake on my Facebook page), search through name-brand clothing, admire local art, upcycled jewelry, handmade gifts and cards, repurposed building pieces and memorabilia. "I see this place as a creative outlet for office workers, teachers and those with an entrepreneurial spirit," Hulse said. Local Hammond's pretzels are sold in front of Building Character's checkout counter, along with Emma's Amish Popcorn and locally made pet treats. "We are more community-oriented, and that's what sets us apart from other antique co-ops," he said. Hulse donates space to a working 1920s print shop, the Heritage Press Museum. e press gives live demonstrations and allows patrons to experience a printer's job. I took home a couple of printed riddles for my kids to solve. Kept them busy while I wrote this article. He also donates a stall to JP McCaskey's art club, his high school alma mater. "ey sell their products, and the money goes back into art supplies," he said. Lot oF LAughs Original shopping bags from Hager's millinery department are mounted on the staircase wall leading to a second-floor corner office. A picture of the façade of M. T. Garvin and Co. also graces the wall, as do photos of past retail industry giants. "Lancaster has a strong retail past," Hulse said. "And that continues to this day." A second-floor clothing stall leads right into the Lucky Marketing Co. workshop, Hulse's production arm. ere, he creates greeting cards, calendars, reproductive postcards, stickers, T-shirts, buttons, high school pendants and old maps. On the day of my visit, an aproned elf busied herself pouring Christmas scents into candle molds. While another elf diligently adhered prints onto tiles, Hulse pointed out the garment printer, mug printer, screen printer and foil pencil press. Hulse handed me a "Golden Girls" printed bookmark. I couldn't help but smile and gasp, much like "Golden Girl" Rose. General manager and friend, Joel Henry, had created a birthday gift of custom tiles pasted with "e Golden Girls" faces. at's right—Blanche, Sophia, Dorothy and Rose. "I love 'e Golden Girls,'" said Hulse. After Henry sold quite a few more sets on Etsy, Hulse decided to create a "Golden Girls" product line. e line is sold a few doors down Queen Street at his second shop, Madcap and Co. "It's a funky gift shop—a contemporary, upscale Spencer's selling local, American-made, and fair trade products," he said. "I love Lancaster. I grew up here, so we have a whole line of Lancaster products." e Lucky Marketing Co. also prints tiles and coasters with Lancaster landmarks, area codes and neighborhoods. Hulse said that he tries to stay away from anything imported. "My businesses are the epitome of shop local," he said. He also designs a line of crass greeting cards appropriately named, "Totally Inappropriate Cards." His logo—"When you care enough to send the very worst." I giggled my way through the line and bought quite a few. "We like to have fun and get a lot of laughs," Hulse said. What started with a simple vision has grown to 70 vendors, three businesses and nine employees. "Our employees are willing to be adaptable, try new things, and give customers what they want," Hulse said. Building Character is located at 342 N. Queen St., Lancaster. For more information, call 717-394-7201 or visit www.buildingcharacter.biz.

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