Many of the buildings in the downtown area have stores on the first floors and, while some store owners reside in apartments above the stores, others rent the apartments.

This building on the northwest corner of Congress Avenue and North Washington Street is estimated to have been built in 1880 and had several owners before the Asher family. It has been owned by the Ashers since 1946 when Ada May Keen Asher (1897-1982) purchased it. She and her husband, Arthur P.G. Asher were a well-known local family who made their home at 200 South Washington Street since 1920. Many of their family members were involved in local businesses and community organizations. They had two children, Kathryn J. Asher (1918-2005) and A. Donald Asher (1920-2005). The Asher family continues to own this property.

Beginning in the late 1930s, this was the location of Grace Sweet Shoppe where Jenny sold snacks and advertised that it was the Pensupreme ice cream headquarters. It was popular with high school children because it had a jukebox, double-dip ice cream cones for 5¢, and Skyscraper Ice Cream Sodas for 10¢. Following that the first floor became Bowens & Snyder, Opticians (the start of what we now know as Vision Associates, located elsewhere) in the 1960s.

In 1981, Mitch Shank (son of Ellsworth and Madelyn Shank) operated the River City Ice Jam here. The old-fashioned ice cream parlor had intriguing names for its ice cream concoctions. The first floor continued selling ice cream from 1986 through 1991 when it was Sweet William’s Ice Cream Parlor, owned by William Farrell Foy II and Rose Foy. “Sweet William’s Special” included six scoops of ice cream in a special dish with whipped cream, toppings, and cherries. They also sold sandwiches; they opened the shop at 7 a.m. six days a week, and 9 a.m. on Sundays. By 1992, this became Webe’s Sweet Shop.

During the early 2000s, the Ritz Gourmet Café, with sandwiches, soups, and luscious desserts made by the late Stephanie Anderson, occupied this café. Its walls displayed watercolors by local artist, David Wells. Customers relaxed at wrought iron tables to the sound of blues and jazz while enjoying fresh fruit tarts or chocolate mousse cake. After the Ritz closed, the store was empty for some time.

In 2012, it became the pale blue and yellow home of Les Petits Bisous with home-made French macarons by world-traveled Wanda Boker who had recently moved to Havre de Grace. Wanda closed the popular and successful business in the fall of 2018 but in May 2019 Les Petits Bisous was reopened by Emily Yeatman, who continues to supply the town with fresh multi-flavored macarons. This unique shop’s first floor exterior is now painted a pleasing pale pink color.

County Records
Built 1880. 2680 sq ft, commercial, retail store, 2000 sq ft lot.