Sweet Success

Historic downtown Lawrenceburg welcomes a new business just in time for warm weather. Strong’s Sugar Shack, housed in a c.1868 commercial building, opened in April featuring locally made candy, hand dipped ice cream, baked goods, coffee, and more.

Amanda Knight, along with Mindy, Autumn, Sydney, and Christian Strong, are expanding their pizza business by bringing a family and woman-owned ice cream and candy shop to Lawrenceburg’s High Street. Prior to housing Strong’s Sugar Shack, 98 East High Street served as an office building.

Renovations opened up and brightened the space by creating a large interior dining room where patrons can escape the summer heat. Bright colors and a vintage-inspired checkerboard floor add to the fun. The eye-catching sign feels at home among the area’s historic buildings.

Knight says they were excited by the opportunity to add another business in the historic downtown. She wanted a unique attraction like those she looks for when she travels – local experiences you can’t get just anywhere. Their family also owns Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, just down the street from the new Sugar Shack.

Knight says they find they work best in downtowns, and incentives offered by the Main Street program helped make their dream of an ice cream and candy shop a reality. Lawrenceburg’s new downtown incentive programs, include those that may provide up to $7,500 in grant funding for new businesses.

Lawrenceburg’s new downtown park, which includes a permanent stage, broke ground on May 4 adjacent to the Sugar Shack, making the shop a great stop during park concerts and events. The momentum building along High Street should help encourage more new businesses in the historic downtown hoping to capitalize on the city’s investment.

Stop by Strong’s Sugar Shack 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, and check it out on Facebook.