Not even the sweltering heat amid a Montgomery County Code Red Hot Weather Emergency on Jul. 25 was enough to dull the Friday afternoon buzz on the streets of Glenside, Cheltenham Township’s fast-growing hub just beyond the Philadelphia city limits.
Outside Elcy’s Cafe at Glenside train station, the SEPTA commuter lot was nearly full. Inside, iced coffees kickstarted a conversation about Cheltenham Township’s opportunity for economic development.
Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder, along with County Commerce Department staff, spoke with local leaders and residents eager to chart a path forward. It was the first stop on an afternoon tour of Glenside’s small business community — and an opportunity for business owners, both upstart and veteran, to see what public-private partnerships can look like.
“Every time I go into a town like Glenside, I see so much history, and I hear about the challenges businesses are facing, but also their visions for the future,” Commissioner Winder said. “It just really helps to lend a perspective as I govern and work to better support businesses locally.”
While this visit served primarily to make introductions and spark ideas, the County Commerce team routinely supports local businesses with low-interest loan programs, site selection services, talent recruiting and retention, and more.
Businesses like Elcy’s—which has been roasting its own coffee and serving fresh pastries for 25 years — have seen Cheltenham Township grow up around them. The easy commute to the city and proximity to retail and dining has made it a popular choice for families.
Community leaders are dedicated to taking the township to its next natural phase of growth. But striking the right balance between developing new buildings and revitalizing existing storefronts will be paramount, incoming Cheltenham Township Commissioner Emily Stein said during the meeting. What has worked for a thriving center like Ardmore may not be the best approach in Glenside.
During a stop at EXP Realty on Glenside Avenue, EXP Team Leader and Cheltenham Township Commissioner, Jeff Chirico, explained that many long-standing storefronts require retrofitting to accommodate new businesses, especially restaurants.
“There’s so much opportunity here that hasn’t been realized,” he said. “We can keep the old charm but build up.”
Plenty of that historic charm was on display throughout the afternoon.
Around the corner on Easton Road, Atlantic Embroidery is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in October. Owner Denise Thompson comes from a family of entrepreneurs. The technology powering her embroidery machines has advanced considerably since the floppy disc days, but she has remained the thread that ties the establishment together.
Seeing the late-lunch crowd at Rocky’s Deli proved that the family-owned shop remains a local favorite for cheesesteaks and hoagies after 44 years in business. Next door at The Nest, Owner Gwyn Ennis has been in business just nine years. But the antiques she sells beckon times gone by.
Cheltenham Township has long been fertile ground for enterprising people. The settlement’s first gristmill was established in the late 17th century along Tookany Creek, which flows from Glenside through Cheltenham Township and into Philadelphia. The mill later became part of a shovel factory that grew to national prominence in the 1880s.
Back on Glenside Avenue, there’s new life by the creek.
Stitch Central, a fabric and crafts store open since March 2024, is a far cry from the wool fulling mills of Cheltenham past. During what was undoubtedly the most colorful stop on Commissioner Winder’s tour, a weekly knitting group paused to show off a garment they’ve been creating together.
Co-owner Danielle Gallagher explained how Stitch Central had to overcome zoning hurdles to open its doors last year. But their perseverance makes for one of the more unique storefronts in Glenside — not just another chain store, said Commissioner Winder.
“On this main street corridor, there’s such a charm and history behind these businesses,” the Commissioner said. “The business owners that I’ve met today have kept that charm but innovated within their respective storefronts.”
Amid the many entrepreneurial legacies in Cheltenham Township, there’s a new crop of storefronts bringing renewed vibrancy to Glenside. For Stitch Central, it’s quilts and yarn. But, at CJ’s Sweet Palace on Easton Road, it’s ice cream and water ice.
It was at CJ’s that the Glenside tour came to a close, with all on hand sampling Shop-Owner Carlief Brown’s homemade water ice. Named after Brown’s teenage son, CJ, who is on the autism spectrum, CJ’s Sweet Palace opened in 2024 as a welcoming, inclusive shop for residents of all ages to enjoy something sweet.
Cheltenham Township brings a complementary blend to residents and visitors alike: cold water ice on a scorching day, yesterday’s antiques for your modern home, and old-school charm with a vision for a prosperous future.
Learn more at the Montgomery County Commerce Department.
