Antique Store Gets a Shot in the Arm from 'Cash Mob'

In the Ambridge historic district, just a few blocks from , Tammy Beveridge and Barbara Jones kept busy Saturday afternoon assisting and ringing up a steady stream of customers.

The co-owners of Recycled Dreams at Silk House Café said they were grateful for the crowd that stopped through during the day as part of an organized a relatively new trend that provides small businesses with an economic boost by infusing cash and community support.

The owners said about 18 to 20 customers typically stop in over the course of a regular Saturday. The same amount of people came through this Saturday in just one hour.

“We definitely appreciate it,” Beveridge said of the customer support. “We’re happy to see people coming out.”

The store at 317 14th St. is a former silk manufacturing building built in 1826 that played a major role in the Harmony Society's famous silk industry. The historic building was renovated in 2005 into a coffee shop that later closed due to a lack of business.

Beveridge of Ambridge and Jones of reopened the store, selling antiques, collectibles and vintage items.

Small businesses have to work hard to stay profitable during these tough economic times, but Beverage said businesses on their end of the borough are particularly facing challenges due to the .

“We’re all struggling down at this end with the bridge closed,” Beveridge said.

Jones saw plenty of new faces Saturday and made sure to thank each and every one.

“It’s nice that you do this for the local stores,” Jones told the cash mob organizers. “We appreciate it very much.”