Easton Farmers Market Booming A Decade After Hitting Bottom

Skyline of Easton, PA from Lafayette College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Easton, PA – On any given Saturday from May to November, you can race zucchini, chow on hot peppers and glory in the goodness of the tomato at the Easton Farmers Market.

This year the 260-year-old market boasts 45 vendors, 20 more on a waiting list and will draw more than 50,000 people into the city’s Centre Square. It’s hard to imagine that 10 years ago its lone vendor, Gloria Raub, passed away and almost took the market with her.

“When Raub died,” said state Rep. Bob Freeman D-Northampton. “I was deeply concerned that the market would just disappear.”

Instead of vanishing, the market bloomed as its backers found the right niche and a formula that attracted producers and consumers back to Centre Square – it also didn’t hurt that a movement toward localiy-grown food gained momentum at the same time.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-farmers-market-260th-year-20120503,0,34342.story

Project OK’d For Pittsburgh’s North Shore

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After months of controversy, the city’s Stadium Authority cleared the way Friday for the latest development between Heinz Field and PNC Park — a $20 million retail and office project next to Stage AE.

Stadium Authority board members unanimously approved conceptual plans for the development and voted to sell the 1.3 acres needed for the project to North Shore Developers L.P. for $900,000, the appraised value.

The project is the first one advanced by developer Continental Real Estate Companies and the Steelers and the Pirates since the board voted last fall to amend a 9-year-old option agreement with the teams and extend the deadlines they had missed for developing land between the stadiums.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/project-okd-for-north-shore-467897/

Off the Avenue Cafe Opens Shop In Downtown Reading

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When Keith B. Rhein opened Off the Avenue Cafe in West Lawn in 2007, he never meant to create a trendy spot for dinner.

His focus was to create a great cafe for breakfast and lunch.

But because there was a greater demand for dinner, Rhein gave the customers what they wanted.

Rhein is trying the breakfast and lunch idea once again, opening a second location: Off the Avenue Cafe Downtown.

The new cafe is on the first floor of the M&T Building, which is owned by developer Alan Shuman, president of Shuman Development Group.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=362284

Historic Columbia, PA Market House Rededicated

A large crowd was on hand Thursday for the rededication of the Historic Columbia Market House, which recently underwent improvements to its roof, exterior and heating and electrical systems.

 

Speakers included Mayor Leo Lutz, Borough Manager Norm Meiskey, Borough Council President Mary Wickenheiser, Columbia Historic Market House Trust Chairman Dave Rupp, Turkey Hill Vice President John Cox and Lancaster County Commissioner Craig Leaman.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/487213_Columbia-market-rededicated.html#ixzz1c5nVI23Q

Shady Maple Complex – Regional Destination And Economic Powerhouse

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Rural East Earl Township in Lancaster County is home to Shady Maple Smorgasbord, Shady Maple Farm Market, Good’s Store, Country Home Furniture and Martin’s Trailside Express.  This cluster of businesses provides a huge economic boost to East Earl Township while preserving the character of it surroundings, which adds to the appeal/experience.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord seats 1200, Shady Maple Farm Market is 124,000 square feet and Good’s Store just added a 20,000-square-foot addition.  This complex features some very large stores/restaurants, however, it “fits into the rural surrounding” and has become a regional destination.  You could literally spend the day eating and shopping there.

Read this very interesting article from the Central Penn Business Journal: http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/article/20110826/CPBJ01/110829896/Hometown-draw

Souderton’s Broad Theater To Get $5 Million Renovation

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Some great economic development/revitalization news out of Souderton.  The Broad Theater space is 20,000-square-feet.  Plans call for second-run movies to be shown and a variety of food options at reasonable prices.

The theater will have a concession stand and a cafe.  The building will also house Bogart’s casual family dining restaurant and the Broadway Prime restaurant specializing in steaks.

To read the entire article, click here:

http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2011/07/22/news/doc4e2a1ffb41333653374205.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Wellsboro’s Laurel Festival Crowd Tops 20,000

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Another example of working with what you have - Wellsboro has had a Laurel Festival as long as I can certainly remember.  This small town of 3,300 people is the county seat of Tioga County.  Tioga County is home to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and borders New York State.  Tioga County has a land area of 1,134 square miles with a population of 41,000.  The county is 84% rural. 

One thing rural Tioga County has plenty of is mountain laurel, which is the state flower of Pennsylvania.  Wellsboro has a beautiful main street, with a grass median, lined with tall, black gaslights.  Very picturesque!  A great setting for a big parade.

This year’s Laurel Festival included the annual two-hour parade, a juried crafts show and street of foods, and the Firemen’s Carnival, held across town on the annex grounds.  The parade had 65 units, including eight floats carrying 28 queen candidates, 17 bands, five fire companies, five community floats and various vehicles.

Imagine what an influx of 20,000+ people into Wellsboro for a Saturday does for the local economy.  Some people make a weekend of it.  Not bad for a town with less than 3,500 people!  This is not the only large event Wellsboro hosts but we are focusing on this one today.

Jim Thorpe: Revitalization Success Story

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I drove up to Jim Thorpe Friday thinking it would be cooler in the mountains (not) and because it is a funky place (this was not my first visit, hence I already knew it was funky).

Jim Thorpe is the county seat of Carbon County.  Carbon County has a total land area of 387 square miles and 65,249 residents, based on the 2010 Census (a population density of 171 persons per square mile).  Jim Thorpe’s population was 4,804 (2000 census) with a land area of 14.5 square miles (mostly undeveloped, obviously).  Carbon County borders Lehigh County to the south and Luzerne County to the north.

Jim Thorpe was originally two towns across the Lehigh River from one another – Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk.  The two towns merged and adopted the name Jim Thorpe, after famed Native American Olympian Jim Thorpe who is buried in the borough.  Originally, what is now Jim Thorpe was a railroad and coal-shipping center.  Like many Pennsylvania towns, Jim Thorpe found itself on the downside of post-industrialization and languished for many years.  Becoming Jim Thorpe was the first attempt to boost the local economy.  This offered only limited success and so the town leadership needed to find other means of ramping up their economy.

Today, Jim Thorpe is a bustling small town that has become a destination using its natural surrounding, its heritage and some good marketing. 

Jim Thorpe has capitalized on being a former railroad town.  You can take an awesome train ride along the Lehigh River.  During the trip you learn about local history, play games and answer questions.  It is very enjoyable and affordable.  Asa Packer and his son Harry Packer have mansions in Jim Thorpe.  Asa’s mansion is a museum and Harry’s mansion is a B&B.  Asa Packer founded the Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University.

Jim Thorpe is a river town.  The Lehigh River runs between both sides of town.  Taking advantage of being a river town, Jim Thorpe offers whitewater rafting on the Lehigh. 

Jim Thorpe is also a mountain town.  It’s called the “Switzerland of America”.  Taking advantage of being in the mountains, the town offers mountain biking and hiking.  They threw in paintball just because.  And don’t forget the Anthracite Triathlon, paying homage to being a coal-shipping center and part of the Coal Region.

Jim Thorpe is a historic town, full of 19^th century architecture.  One can see examples of Federalist, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque.  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Carbon County Courthouse, the Packer Mansions, the Train Station, the Hotel Switzerland, historic Broadway, the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Building and the Carbon County jail are some of the architectural attractions in town.

Jim Thorpe is so cool.  How cool is it??  Jim Thorpe was listed as number 7 on Budget Travel magazine’s America’s Coolest Small Towns in 2009.

Downtown Jim Thorpe is full of restaurants, bars, boutiques and stores of all kinds.  No empty or blighted buildings.  Everything is clean and neat.  There is signage every where so you can find your way.  There is plenty of cheap parking…you have to pay but it is only a few dollars for the day.  There is plenty of foot and vehicular traffic coursing through the downtown. 

Great family fun abounds in Jim Thorpe!  To learn more about Jim Thorpe or to plan a visit to Jim Thope, I suggest you study their website so you can make full use of you time when you visit!  http://www.jimthorpe.org/

Lancaster And Harrisburg Promote The Arts And Their Revitalized Downtowns With Monthly Events!

This is an inspiring story about how Lancaster’s success with their First Fridays event has inspired Harrisburg to follow suit.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

Lancaster’s First Fridays event now involves 70 venues!  This free event brings thousands into downtown Lancaster!  This not only benefits the arts scene but all downtown businesses and restaurants.  First Fridays runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every month, without exception!  People come from as far away as Philadelphia and Baltimore!  Franklin and Marshall College is the presenting sponsor of this event.  As a side note, Franklin and Marshall has been instrumental in helping Lancaster with economic development!

While Lancaster has a larger population than Pottstown, it is also a very walkable city of only 7.40 square miles (land area).  A year-round monthly event in downtown Pottstown could yield similar results that would benefit our emerging arts community and our downtown stores and restaurants.  And maybe attract new ones.

Here is a link to Lancaster’s First Fridays event.  Check out this map and list of venues:  http://www.lancasterarts.com/_files/live/FirstFriday_Guide_2011_1st_Qtr_LArts.pdf

Some folks in Harrisburg had watched the success of Lancaster’s First Fridays.  A year ago, three downtown business owners got together and started 3^rd in the Burg.  This idea has grown into a monthly event with up to 15 venues participating already!  That is great for the first year! 

The next 3^rd in the Burg takes place on January 21^st and will feature art, music and food from downtown to midtown!  Nonna’s Delisioso! will feature a 3^rd in the Burg dinner special.  Nonna’s co-owner, Grace Diaz was quoted as saying, 3^rd in the Burg has “introduced people from here and neighboring towns and cities to the revitalization that has taken place in our developing arts community.”  Bingo!!  What better way to entice people to come take a “look-see” than with the arts, food and music.

Participating businesses are experiencing increased sales and foot traffic at their locations.  The event draws many people into downtown Harrisburg who would not ordinarily go there.  Having multiple participants increases the public’s enthusiasm, creates a positive “buzz” and creates a snowball effect.  The ball started out with three participants, now there are 15.  As the momentum builds and the crowds increase, other merchants will take part in making the ball bigger.  As shoppers stroll between participating merchants, they will pass other stores and restaurants along the way.  I can bet you they will stop in those places as well.

The other part of the snowball effect is the arts community.  As this event grows, it will inspire other artists to take part and possibly move to Harrisburg.  Thereby increasing Harrisburg’s arts community and growing 3rd in the Burg further.

The desired result of 3^rd in the Burg is to make Harrisburg a “destination” for the arts, shopping and dining.  I give that two Roy’s Rants thumbs up!

Here is a link to 3rd in the Burg:  http://3rdintheburg.com/

Quakertown Takes The “Rebranding” Plunge

The next town in my series of redevelopment success stories in Quakertown, PA.  Pottstown area residents are all familiar with Quakertown.  We even share Route 663. 

Quakertown has benefited over the years, to some degree, by their proximity to the big cities in the Lehigh Valley.  They are part of suburbia on heavily traveled Route 309.  What many people think of when they get a visual of Quakertown is the “Big Box” sprawl on 309.  However, there is more to Quakertown.

Quakertown Borough is 2.0 square miles and contained 8,931 residents according to the 2000 census.  A 2009 estimate put the population of the borough at 8,672.  The estimated median income for Quakertown in 2008 was $53,340.  The 2008 estimated per capita income was $27,000.  The City-data crime index for Quakertown in 2009 was 258.0, which is considered low.

This all sounds rather idyllic.  Why not roll with it?  However, the status quo was not good enough for Quakertown officials who felt they needed to get people excited about their downtown and what it has to offer.  Honestly, I never thought there was much more to Quakertown than Route 309, if the truth be told.  So now I am excited too!

Quakertown has come up with the all important “tag line” which is “Explore The Possibilities”.  Kind of peeks your interest further, doesn’t it!  I enjoy exploring!  Now I feel the urge to drive up to Quakertown and venture into their downtown to “explore” the possibilities!  Local officials want to make Quakertown a destination.  To that end, they hired Delta Development Group of Mechanicsburg, PA to help lead them to the promised land of redevelopment.  In addition, Quakertown has hired Marketing Solutions of Quakertown to help them identify and market their borough.

The $64,000 question:  What kind of destination does Quakertown want to be?  The winning answer is recreation, culture, shopping and dining.  To that end a logo was carefully crafted incorporating these elements.  Because Quakertown is strategically located on the edge of the Lehigh and Delaware valleys, they are marketing themselves in both areas.

Quakertown was once a manufacturing and commercial center.  With the decline of industry, Quakertown is now a bedroom community and regional shopping destination.  Quakertown has decided to work with the assets they have and improve upon them.  Instead of crying over what once was, they are embracing what is.

Click here to check out the Quakertown development organization’s website – Quakertown Alive! http://www.quakertownalive.com/

Hat tip to readers Katy and Andrew for bringing this story to my attention!

Demographic data from Wikipedia and City-data.com