Submitted Photo Elaine Bardol, owner of Heart of the Valley, cuts the ribbon as family and friends gather for a celebration of the new business in Cassadaga.

CASSADAGA – A former bank has a new life as a gift shop.

The CHQ Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for “Heart of the Valley,” located at 8038 Route 60, Cassadaga. The shop is in the former Community Bank, which is part of the ShurFine building.

The business is the brainchild of Elaine Bardol. It’s made up of gifts and goods made by local vendors throughout Chautauqua County.

“We have a lot of local vendors. There’s a lot of talent in these hills and valleys and I’m really happy to bring them out to one place – to you,” Bardol said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We have homemade goods from local vendors. We have farm goods, we have quilts, woodworking, jewelry – a little bit of everything.”

Their hours for the winter are Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Thursday hours going until 7 p.m. In the spring they will be expanding their hours.

They will have a meet-and-greet on Thursday, March 26, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with Rev. Charlene Orffeo, an ordained minister at City of Light Spiritualist Church, a medium, Usui Reiki Master and empath.

James Feldmann representing Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“It’s great to see that not only are you investing in a small business here, but you’re also investing in other small businesses by providing local craftsmen somewhere to sell their products,” he said.

CHQ Chamber President Daniel Heitzenrater agreed.

“That ability to bring in other local vendors, other local business people to your space … it’s so cool to see business people work together,” he said.

Cassadaga trustees David Rowley and Jeff Frick were also in attendance.

“We hope that people partake and really take a look at all the stuff you have here,” Rowley said.