Next time you’re in Bellefonte, make sure to stop by Smith and Front, a cute, eclectic and welcoming shop located at 126 S. Allegheny St. The store offers a wide variety of items, with shelves filled with houseplants, greeting cards, jewelry, art prints and more.
Owner Staci Egan carefully curates the selection, sourcing from Pennsylvania greenhouses and beyond, to bring in handcrafted goods from artists and small studios. Her goal is simple: offer affordable, high-quality products for customers, while also supporting the small business community.
Where It All Started
VALLEY had the lucky opportunity to sit down with Egan and learn more about her journey. The business originally started in Philipsburg as a collaboration between Egan and her husband, combining his woodworking and her jewelry. The shop was located on Front Street at the time, and they lived on Smith Road, which inspired the name Smith and Front.
What began as solely handcrafted items slowly evolved, from incorporating air plants into their woodwork pieces, to expanding into succulents and eventually offering a broader selection of houseplants. During her time in Philipsburg, Egan noticed the growing charm of Bellefonte.
I made it my mission that Bellefonte was going to be our move.
– Staci Egan
A Little Bit Of Everything
When asked how she would describe her store, Egan said it is “very me,” reflecting her personality through plants, humor and a variety of niche items. “If I see something online and it makes me laugh out loud, I have to have it,” Egan said, describing her sourcing process.
She also listens closely to customers, using pop-ups and market testing to understand what resonates with her customers, before bringing new items into the shop. Egan’s goal is to create an experience for her customers that feels different from other stores.
Small Business, Big Impact
“People inherently do want to support small business and the experiences of coming in knowing the people there,” Egan said, noting that “there is a lack of places people can go judgement free.” She emphasized how much building relationships with her customers means to her, and how important it is to create a welcoming environment.
While that was always a goal, she said she never expected the shop to grow into the kind of safe space it has become for the community — something she is now deeply grateful to be able to offer.
I didn’t think a plant could bring that out of a person.
– Staci Egan
Keeping It Simple
Egan said she focuses on underpromising and overdelivering — a mindset many small businesses adopt while competing with larger corporations. She remains committed to growing and improving the store each day, while also recognizing the importance of small moments of joy for customers. Even with rising costs, she hopes the shop can offer a simple pick-me-up, like a $10 plant that can brighten someone’s day.
Rather than focusing on one major long-term goal, Egan said her priorities are steady improvements and enjoying the process. She approaches the business by feeling things out as she goes, guided by what makes her happy rather than profit alone.
Upcoming Events
Make sure to check out some of the exciting events that Smith and Front has coming up!
First in the Fonte
- Join us every first Saturday April, May, June and August from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in downtown Bellefonte for First in the Fonte! Celebrate creativity, community and local small businesses with vendor pop-ups, hands-on make-and-take activities, food trucks, live music and more. There’s something new to discover each month — come spend the day in the Fonte!
Botanical Design Cyanotype Make + Take
- Join us for a Botanical Design Cyanotype Make + Take on Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Our friend Michele Randall will guide participants through the cyanotype process, a photographic printing technique that uses sunlight to create beautiful cyan-blue botanical prints.
- Registration for this event can be found on their website.
Next time you’re in Bellefonte, be sure to stop by Smith and Front and support this local business! Tag us on Instagram at @VALLEYMag to share.
