Postcards are a product of the business that once operated out of this Erie building along 11th Street. They were made by A-K-D Printing Company.
This was the printing press — and a piece of Erie history that will be showcased in this building even after Kate and Co. moves in, the public relations firm specializing in public affairs. The company’s namesake is Kate Phillips.
She said, “We do photography, we do videography, we do social media, we do design.” The historic building she now owns and is in the process of revitalizing, is thanks to state tax credits.
Phillips said, “It was built in 1870, but it survived the flood of 1915, the Millcreek flood that really wiped out most of the downtown. This building stood strong.”
The Erie native, former journalist, and later a Pennsylvania governor’s press secretary, started her own company in her home outside of Erie 16 years ago. It grew when she moved back, found this current office space in Erie, rebranded in 2024, and kicked off this new chapter.
This building will house her more than dozen-member staff, some in Erie and some elsewhere.
Julia Ferrito and Julia Carden are both local content creators awaiting the move.
Carden expressed, “It’s incredibly exciting. I’m really happy to be part of it.”
While this second floor will be the hub for the creative team at Kate and Co., the upper level will be the executive offices. There will even be space for a rooftop deck to host clients and events.
A space to create physical signage for customers will be here. A nursing area for mothers will be next to a podcast area, and a café for employees will also be on the second floor.
Phillips relayed, “On the first floor, there will be an open meeting space that our clients and other businesses in Erie can utilize to meet, to strategize, to maybe have a press conference.”
Further driving home support and pride for this business owner’s hometown area.