The Iron Lion of Hanover
By Ana Villanueva-Lykes | Photography by Melissa Ring
Like lions, some people can effortlessly command a room, filling it with their presence. Liz Johnides is one of those people. Her big smile and powerful voice demand attention as she shares her passion for connecting with people and supporting the community. After many years of assisting individuals with their finances, the managing partner of The Markets at Hanover and Iron Lion Brewery shifted her focus to helping budding entrepreneurs grow their businesses and envisioning Hanover as a thriving community.
Business Incubator
Liz worked for a decade in the finance industry, advising on retirement and investment planning, before shifting her attention to helping her family develop a property in town. They wanted something similar to The Markets at Shrewsbury, which they also own and operate. In 2013, they launched The Markets at Hanover, then called The Amish Markets at Hanover, a venue for small artisan and restaurant ventures to start their business. The market quickly became a popular destination for local goods, handmade crafts and handcrafted eats.
For outsiders, it may seem like merchants come and go, but the way Liz sees it, these businesses continue on to something bigger. “We have a number of businesses that are ready to move up to what has been their dream,” she explains, proudly referring to The Markets as an “incubator for local businesses.” Oak Artisan Cookery, for instance, started as a small artisan pizza place and eventually moved on to a brick-and-mortar location downtown. And CrEATe by Chef Jason, a local favorite for fresh seasonal creations, has moved on to CrEATe @48 in Gettysburg.
Liz fondly views these businesses that have successfully grown as if they were her own children. “[I] love the opportunity to watch someone try out their dream and then fly away,” she says. “The baby bird concept is not lost on me.”
Birth of a Lion
In addition to being a shopping and dining destination, Liz saw the potential of The Markets as a music venue and envisioned a brewpub for people to relax and enjoy good food. Although more knowledgeable in financing and without any background in the food industry, Liz fearlessly dove into opening Leo Brewing and Public House. The brewpub became somewhat of an experiment for Liz, and she relied on highly skilled and talented people to bring her vision to life. It was a rough start, especially when COVID first reared its ugly head, but her iron determination paid off.
Liz shares that operating a brewpub while running a 52,000-square-feet market with roughly 20 vendors came with its own set of challenges. Despite these trials, Leo Brewing and Public House emerged stronger and rebranded as the Iron Lion. The new and improved brewery features unique seasonal brews and cocktails alongside traditional fare with a twist, such as the Iron Lion Club, served with candied bacon, and the Whiskey River Burger, garnished with whiskey-glazed caramelized onions and whiskey aioli. Every weekend, diners can enjoy these delicious offerings along with live music in a warehouse-style bar with big-screen TVs, a rec room and an outdoor patio.
Life of the Party
Always open to “silliness,” as she puts it, Liz—the life of the party—has been spotted a few times donning a shark suit or dancing with chili pepper mascots to encourage Hanoverians to kick off their shoes and dance. On weekends, she opens the doors of The Markets for live music, offering a vibrant musical lineup from unique acts like the 176ers Dueling Pianos and Karaoke with Y2kids.
And it’s always a party at The Markets, with its cornhole tournaments, showtime trivia, cash bingo and open mic nights keeping the crowd entertained. During the holidays, guests can look forward to events like Santa visits, Halloween parties and the much anticipated Halfway to St. Paddy’s Day.
Community … and Beyond
Liz enjoys combining her passion for charity, food, music and connecting with people. Throughout the year, she is busy organizing events for The Markets. In recent years, she has organized Pirates in the Harbor Music Festival, an event that raises money for the Trop Rock Music Association Foundation to help ill or disabled musicians.
Surrounded by a family of military veterans, meeting the needs of local service members is something she holds dear. No Man Left Behind is an annual fundraiser she has organized for the last few years, raising more than $5,000 yearly for veterans’ causes. Many of the events she has led support Roots for Boots, a venue for locals to serve the country by helping veterans. She has also hosted Brews for Brains for the National Brain Tumor Society, Noise for Tots for Toys for Tots and the Hanover Hospital Auxiliary Jewelry Sale, among others.
Liz is constantly brewing up exciting events for The Markets and looks forward to what’s next. “You must be willing to make a change constantly,” she says. “One of the greatest things that this opportunity has offered me is just the ability to be flexible and pivot.”
The Markets at Hanover
1649 Broadway, Hanover
717-646-1649
www.marketsathanover.com
Regular Market Hours
9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Thursdays & Fridays
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays
Select Eateries
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Wednesdays
Shops
9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Thursdays & Fridays
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturdays
Iron Lion Pub
717-915-2375
www.ironlionpub.com
4 – 10 p.m. Wednesdays & Thursdays
4 – 10:30 p.m. Fridays
11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturdays