MIFFLINBURG -- A condemned building in Union County has been completely renovated and just today a new business opened inside.
It was a day of pampering with free massages, giveaways and makeovers at La Esperanza Day Spa. The new business inside the Young Mansion in Mifflinburg celebrated its grand opening with an open house.
"Very warm, welcoming." said Katie Bomberger, Watsontown.
"Oh, I think it's beautiful." said Holly Royer, Mifflinburg.
“It's wonderful to see a new business come into town." said Harry Apfelbaum, Mifflinburg.
The building on Chestnut Street dates back to the 1800's and recently had a makeover of its own.
"I fell in love with the building; the high ceilings." said Joanna Yoder.
Bright chandeliers hang from the high ceilings now. It was a different experience for spa owner Joanna Yoder when she first looked at the building.
“It was dust dirty. Construction zone." said Yoder.
"There were cables hanging out of the ceiling, exposed electrical, pipes and so on. To see it now is a vast improvement. Now, it's fantastic." said Mayor David Cooney, Mifflinburg.
Mifflinburg mayor, David Cooney was there to cut the ribbon at the grand opening. Cooney said the Young Mansion used to be the borough building but several years ago they moved out because the building was too rundown. Mifflinburg built a new borough building and the Young Mansion was condemned in 2008.
“The state of the building probably the part where she has her day spa now, it was terrible," said Cooney
The borough eventually renovated the building and put it up for sale. The new owners did even more work, turning the second and third floors into apartments and the first floor into the space now leased by La Esperanza.
The hair salon will soon have a hair salon. The business owner says she has plans to make sure the entire building is kept up with for a long time.
"It really turned out to be just what I wanted it to be." said Yoder.
The owners of the historic building say they spent about $300,000 on renovations. The four apartments upstairs have already been rented.