About Us - Marketplace at the Square

Where History, Community, and Local Makers Meet

The Marketplace at The Square sits on the historic crossroads known locally as “The Square” in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania — a corner where trade, stories, and community have been intersecting for more than a century. Long before websites, branding, or buzzwords, this was the place where neighbors gathered, shook hands, swapped goods, and kept the town moving.

During the days of Prohibition, a spot like this would have been the kind of place you walked into quietly and walked out of with something worth talking about. Today, we keep that spirit alive — legally, of course — by curating the best local, small-batch, and handcrafted goods from makers who still honor the traditions this town was built on.

Our Home: The Old Farmers Bank (Built 1926)

Our marketplace lives inside one of Pennsburg’s most iconic structures: the old Farmers Bank, built in 1926.

This building once guarded the savings of local farmers, merchants, and families — the very people whose work shaped the Upper Perkiomen Valley. Its stone walls, original vault, and classic early-20th-century details stand as reminders of an era when craftsmanship mattered and small businesses were the backbone of town life.

Today, instead of storing deposits, this historic bank now holds something even more valuable: the creativity, skill, and passion of modern makers carrying forward century-old traditions.

We kept the bones of the building intact — from the vault door to the architectural character — so every visit feels connected to the past. When you step inside, you’re walking into nearly 100 years of local history… with a renewed purpose for a new generation.

A Modern Marketplace With a Vintage Soul

Local goods from real people. History preserved, community revived. All inside a 1926 bank built for the hardworking families who started it all.

Local goods from real people.
History preserved, community revived.
All inside a 1926 bank built for the hardworking families who started it all.

Welcome to The Square — where the past inspires the present, and the community builds the future.

Our Roots: Pennsylvania Dutch Heritage

Pennsburg began as a Pennsylvania Dutch farming community, where families knew how to make real food from real ingredients. Orchards, butters, baked goods, homegrown recipes — nothing fancy, nothing mass-produced, just honest work from good land and good hands.

That heritage still guides us.

It’s why we fill our shelves with the kinds of products you can’t replicate in a factory:

Dutch-style apple butter made from original family recipes

Honey pulled straight from local hives

Small-batch coffee roasted right here in the Lehigh Valley

Teas, treats, candles, and foods crafted with care

Goods made by people close enough to shake hands with

Every item has a story. Every maker has a name. And every product carries forward a piece of the culture that shaped this community.

Prohibition and the Square

Prohibition shaped the landscape of small towns across the country. While the law prevented the legal sale of alcohol, it led to a surge in creativity, underground commerce, and a renewed focus on local relationships. Banks were community anchors. Small businesses were lifelines. Neighbors relied on each other. That same local-first mindset is what drives every business housed under The Square today.

Our tax and accounting services connect directly to this historical thread. Prohibition fundamentally changed how the government collected revenue and helped create the foundations of the modern tax system. Today, Keystone Tax Service of Pennsburg, Keystone Tax Service of the Lehigh Valley, and Shipping Accountant continue that legacy of financial clarity—helping individuals, families, and small businesses navigate the tax and bookkeeping world with honesty and expertise.

Shipping played a major role during the Prohibition era as well. A lot of goods—legal and otherwise—moved quietly in crates, trucks, and backroom packages. At UPV Shipping, we celebrate the legal side of that history by offering modern, reliable UPS, FedEx, and USPS shipping, custom packaging, mailbox rentals, notary services, and small-business logistics support. Where once shipments required secrecy, today they depend on trust, accuracy, and community service. Our marketplace brands—Gift With a Story and Party Like 1776—extend this heritage into the gifts and Americana we curate. Prohibition was a time when handcrafted goods, quiet gifts, and locally made essentials carried meaning. Today, Gift With a Story brings that feeling back through artisan, small-batch Pennsylvania-made gift baskets and themed collections that feel personal and intentional. Party Like 1776 celebrates the larger sweep of American history, connecting the spirit of the 1920s to the founding of our nation and to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary with American-made goods, nostalgic toys, and products that honor the heroes of our past.

Together, all of these businesses form a connected ecosystem—each one reinforcing the others, all rooted in community, heritage, and the pride of American craftsmanship. The Square is more than a building. More than a marketplace. It is a living tribute to the history that built America, and a modern home for the makers, professionals, and entrepreneurs who continue that story today.