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The Auburn family that owns half of Camp Hill's empty units seeks to restore them one by one

Emberly Zellars

Siri Hedreen / The Outlook

Emberly Zellars stands in the center of South Main Street. Her grandfather owns many of the storefronts including those seen to the right.

Camp Hill's South Main Street is a charming central business district with century-old brick facades and pre-automobile walkability. Only two storefronts are occupied, however, and only one is open, a store that sells factory clothing.  

Everything else sits in various stages of decay. One multi-story building, once home to a grocery store and theater, is now a red-brick shell with vines growing out of its windows and roof.

Emberly and John Zellars

Siri Hedreen / The Outlook

Emberly and John Zellars walk up South Main Street.

John Zellars

Siri Hedreen / The Outlook

John Zellars stands at the site of his building that burned down in 1993.

John and Emberly Zellars

Siri Hedreen / The Outlook

John Zellars said he had two-thirds of a restaurant and club ready before the city council refused his business license.