Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — An Economic Profile

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & NIGHTLIFE

AS PENNSYLVANIA’S STATE CAPITAL, HARRISBURG IS A MAJOR DESTINATION FOR CONVENTIONS, CONFERENCES, EXHIBITIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS HOST TO THOUSANDS OF OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS.

The city is also the hub for residents of the region who seek up-scale, after-hours entertainment and quality dining choices. With much of this activity concentrated in Center City and in neighborhoods near the Capitol Complex, the expanding tourism and convention business is providing more opportunities for leisure and entertainment activities.

HOTELS

Hilton Harrisburg (One N. Market Square). The Hilton is one of the largest and grandest hotels in Central Pennsylvania and has a Four-Diamond designation from the AAA. Prominently situated on the entire northeastern quadrant of Market Square, the hotel overlooks the Susquehanna River and is physically connected via enclosed climate-controlled, Strawberry Arcade walkway to Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, the Strawberry Square Retail Complex, the Vartan Parc office tower and the Walnut Street parking garage. The hotel, which recently underwent a $3.8 million thorough refurbishment, contains 341 spacious guest rooms, including 15 luxury suites for private business parties and receptions.

The hotel also features 15 additional conference room combinations, plus eight classroom spaces fitted with the latest audio/visual capabilities. Five of the conference rooms may be opened to form the grand Harrisburg Ballroom. One of the largest hotel ballrooms in the region, this beautifully appointed space contains over 10,000 square feet, having a theater seating capacity of 1,465 people and banquet seating capacity of 950 people. Many national, statewide and local conventions and conferences have been held at the hotel since it opened in November of 1990.

Guests who stay on the top two floors, called the “Executive Level,” are afforded additional services including separate registration, full business services and a staff that is on duty 16 hours a day.

Amenities available to all hotel guests include secretarial services, indoor pool and fitness area, a Business Center, hair dryers, refrigerators and high-speed Internet access as well as complimentary transportation to and from Harrisburg International Airport.

Hotel restaurant and beverage facilities include:

• “The Golden Sheaf,” a full-course, sit-down formal restaurant of fine food, wines and spirits. The restaurant is only one of several in Pennsylvania to have received its own Four-Diamond designation by AAA. The Restaurant also operates an outdoor café on the Hotel’s front plaza during clement weather.
• “Raspberries” features appetizers, salads and baked goods as well as a more casual gourmet menu featuring Rotisserie prepared entrees.
• “Market Street Café,” an intimate cocktail lounge serving light snacks, hors d’oeurves and microbrews.
• “The Bar,” a late-hour destination with live jazz and piano ambience off the main lobby. Rich Pennsylvania Cherry wood paneling gives this high-ceilinged lounge the feel of a classic, historic hotel.

Crowne Plaza (2nd and Chestnut Streets). Harrisburg’s newest hotel is the 261-room, 10-story, fully complimented Crowne Plaza, which opened on June 1, 2000 after having undergone $10.5 million in renovations from a former lodging facility. The hotel, which was awarded “Newcomer of the Year” for 2000 as the best Crowne Plaza to open in the Western Hemisphere, is a fitting upscale compliment to the downtown, and with the Hilton, brings the downtown hotel room count to over 600 as a “critical mass” destination for the region’s convention business.

Distinguished by rich interior appointments and furnishings with a grand staircase and folk art motifs, Crowne Plaza offers state-of-the-art conference and recreational amenities including lower-level parking, indoor heated swimming pool, a Business Center and secretarial services as well as full Internet access in all guest rooms. The 5,600 square foot Grand Ballroom, which can be divided into four smaller ballrooms, accommodates 800 in a theater arrangement, 450 for banquet, and 351 in classroom format. In addition, six interconnected boardrooms can be opened to an expansive great space for larger gatherings.

Two of the upper floors have been set aside for concierge service with guests having access to the concierge lounge and private roof deck with panoramic views of the city, Susquehanna River and the mountains beyond. The first floor features the State House Restaurant and Bar specializing in prime, dry-aged steaks and delicious deserts, daily pasta bar, and a variety of seafood, fowl and salads. The hotel staff is committed to a high level of personalized service marked by quality and commitment.

Comfort Inn (Paxton and Race Streets). Located on the southern edge of Center City, along the river in Shipoke, the Comfort Inn is the only lodging facility in the region which has direct access to Riverfront Park (which lies directly across S. Front Front from the facility). The Inn features an outdoor swimming pool, meeting rooms, the celebrated Passage to India restaurant with authentic Indian cuisine, and 125 attractive guestrooms.

RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE

An abundant selection of restaurants and entertainment spots are available in Harrisburg. Additional establishments are opening soon. A listing of some of the current places to visit, many featuring live music from jazz, to bluegrass, to rhythm and blues, includes:

Center City

Alva Restaurant — 19 S. Fourth St.
Bangkok Wok — 512 N. Third St.
City Grind CoffeeHouse and Eatery — 210 N. Third St.
Colonnade — 300 N. Second St.
Deli Bean — 2nd Floor, Strawberry Square
Downtown Deli & Eatery — 225 Market St.
The Esquire Deli — 502 N. Third St.
Firehouse Restaurant — 606 N. Second St.
Fisaga — 201 N. Second St.
5:01 Downtown — 37 N. Second St.
Gingerbread Man Downtown — 312 Market St.
Golden Sheaf — Hilton Harrisburg
Stallions — 706 N. Third St.
Market Square Café — Hilton Harrisburg
Neato Burrito — 209 N. Second St.
North Street Grocer & Trading Post — 231 North St.
Pep Grill — 209 Walnut St.
Philadelphia Steaks and Hoagies — 23 N. Fourth St.
Politesse — Second and Locust Sts.
Roxy’s Café — 274 North St.
Sandwich Man — 111 N. Second St.
State House Restaurant — Crowne Plaza
Scott’s Grille — 212 Locust St.
The St. Moritz — 714 N. Third St.
2nd Wok — 106 N. Second St.
The Spot — 100 N. Second St.
The Paper Moon — 268 North St.
The Pub at 202 Locust — 202 Locust St.
Simply Turkey — 320 Market Street (Strawberry Square)
Sparky and Clark’s Roasting Co. & Coffee Bar — 20 N. Second St.
State Restaurant — 409 N. Second St.
Stocks on Second — 211 N. Second St.
Strawberry Square Food Court — Third and Walnut Sts. — Second Floor
Tokyo Express — 227 N. Second St.
Walnut Street Pastry & Deli — 403-05 Walnut St.
Zembies Sports Tavern — 226 N. Second St.

An old fashioned-styled trolley shuttle transports patrons of restaurants in the Downtown and Midtown districts each Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 7:30 PM and 11:30 PM to make restaurant “hopping” a more carefree experience for area residents and visitors. This service, which is free to the public, is managed by the Downtown Improvement District.

Cameron Street Corridor

Appalachian Brewing Company — 50 N. Cameron St.
Dodge City USA — 1037 Paxton St.
Montel Carlo Express Pizzeria — 145 S. Cameron St.
Subway Café — 1000 Herr St.

Midtown/Old Fox Ridge

Double Jack’s — 1313 N. Second St.
Garden Vietnamese Restaurant — 304 Reily St.
Garrason’s Tavern — 400 Forster St.
Good Taste Restaurant — 1015 N. Third St.
Jackson House Restaurant — 1004 N. Sixth St.
Keystone Restaurant — 1000 N. Third St.
Nick’s 1014 Café — 1014 N. Third St.
Santo’s — 900 N. Third St.
Shady McGrady’s — 204 Verbeke St.
Ronnie Mo’s — 1427 N. Third St.
Tap Room — 1402 N. Third St.

Uptown

Camp Curtin Bar-B-Que Station — 2504 N. Sixth St.
Da Pits Chicago Grill — 2101 N. Second St.
Mr. G’s Place — 3745 N. Sixth St.

South Harrisburg

Capital Dinner Theater — Thirteenth and Wayne Sts.

Eastern Harrisburg

Gardenia Family Restaurant — 508 S. 29th St.
Lugaro’s Pizza — 1266 Derry St.
Maxwell’s Parkside Café — 2009 State St.
Mercado’s Pizza — 1701 Derry St.
Rookie’s Sports Bar and Grill — 2238 Derry St.
Siam Garden Thai Restaurant — 1917 Paxton St.