If you haven’t driven through downtown Flourtown lately, you may want to head out to the bustling 1500 block of Bethlehem Pike, just beyond Starbucks and before the Flourtown Fire Company.

While Chestnut Hiller Mark Petteruti opened his flower and gift shop, Botanical Expressions, five years ago, it was joined last summer by Scarlet Begonia’s, an eclectic boutique filled with vintage clothing, gift items and unique decorative touches for the home interior.

Karen Phelps named her shop in honor of her favorite song by the Grateful Dead. The building, which dates to the 1800s, was formerly known as the Designer’s Nest. Phelps, who trekked daily from her Gwynedd Valley home to Phoenixville, got tired of the commute.

“Once I saw the bones of this store I knew it could be so much more,” she said, noting that the fresh look and paint has turned many motorists’ heads. “They want to stop in, but parking is limited on the street. My regular customers know that there is parking behind the store. I’m trying to get the word out about that.”

At the corner of College Avenue and Bethlehem Pike is Barbara B’s Jewels, a shop that was in a smaller space on the other side of the block since May 2006. The shop moved into a larger space that previously housed Getz Printing this past March. With huge windows facing both Bethlehem Pike and Starbucks, owner Barbara Barsky said business is booming.

“Look at this,” said Barsky, a certified gemologist, laughing in between a rush of customers. “I can’t keep up with the demand. It’s fabulous.”

The newest addition is GiGi’s Consignments, owned by Patricia Geppert Haber who was looking for a space locally, and Barsky suggested a former realty office in the block.

“It’s perfect,” Haber said between ringing up a steady stream of customers. “I grew up around here and attended the Mount (Mount St. Joseph’s Academy) so everybody who comes in knows me.”

Items on consignment include high-end women and junior’s clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories.

Sandwiched in between the jewelry store and the consignment shop is Bob Cusamano, longtime owner of Bob’s of Antiques and Used Furniture, who has been in the present location for 19 years. He admits he has benefited from the additional foot traffic, but sill expressed concern about the continued construction projects along the block.

“I wish we could get rid of those darned barrels,” he said, referring to the large orange and white barrels outside of the stores.

According to Springfield Township Commissioner Doug Heller, whose district encompasses the block, PennDOT started to install curb cuts for handicapped access at the corners along Bethlehem Pike last fall.

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