‘SHENANDOAH PEOPLE NEVER GIVE UP:’ Leaders celebrate opening of CEBA
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Community and business leaders celebrate as the ribbon is cut on the Center for Education, Business, and the Arts in Shenandoah on April 30, 2026.
SHENANDOAH – “We did it, and what a journey it has been,” Downtown Shenandoah, Inc. President Karen Kenderdine told a standing room only crowd. “It has been nothing short of a miracle that we arrived here today.”
Thursday marked what DSI and its supporters believe was a transformative day for northern Schuylkill County: the grand opening of the $12M Northern Schuylkill Center for Education, Business, and the Arts, or CEBA, just over two years since its groundbreaking.
Business and community leaders all gathered for a ribbon cutting for the center which fills the void left behind by the former Davison’s Furniture Store and Thunder Road nightclub.
It features an events space, offices, maker spaces, and a commercial kitchen, soon to be dubbed the Jean and Ted Twardzik Memorial Kitchen in honor of the pierogy magnates.
Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill) recalled that, growing up, Shenandoah “was one of the most vibrant downtowns in Schuylkill County.”
“Thanks to a very dedicated group of volunteers — they were relentless. Relentless, and they just kept coming back, and back, and back, and we believed in them,” Argall said. “I am so glad that they took on what was an eyesore and decided to do something for economic growth, for revitalization, a downtown hub here that can serve folks from all over the county.”
“One thing I learned is Shenandoah people never give up,” Argall added.
“Never take for granted what a small group of people can do when they really put their mind to it,” Neal Goodman, former state representative for Shenandoah, said. He was instrumental in getting the effort started.
Dr. Sasha Sherry, a dentist in town and secretary of the Greater Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce, told the group that, when she first opened her practice on the east end, she would regularly be told about Shenandoah’s heyday, that “it’s not like it used to be.”
“The reality is nothing is ever going to be like it used to be because the past is behind us,” Sherry said. “But right now, we have the opportunity to create a better future and that’s what today is all about.”
“To everybody who played a role in bringing CEBA to life, your dedication and resilience has created something that is going to have a lasting impact for years to come,” she added. “This building took vision, hard work, partnerships, and a shared belief that this community deserves more.”
After the ribbon cutting, guests were treated to tours of the building and a “Taste of Shenandoah” dinner featuring items from most, if not all, of the town’s eateries.
The center has been in the works for at least ten years, as the public first heard the plans — then described as an “innovation, entrepreneurship, and events center” — back in 2016.
It is largely funded by federal and state grants with notable private donations, including three men who donated a combined $3 Million: Charles Shucofsky, Stanley Ptaszkowski and Jack Schwab. Each floor will be named after one of them.
The building was built over the past two years by Wagman Construction, of York.
The Primary Health Network is already on the second floor of the building and a workforce development entity and a psychologist will be moving in as wel.
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