Well done; more to do
By Patrick Kelley
Originally published 02:00 p.m., October 23, 2007
Updated 02:01 p.m., October 23, 2007
There has been some good news along Commercial Street in recent weeks. The new Wheat State Pizza is open and should increase business in the 1100 block and draw more students off campus and into the community.
The facelift at Plumbing by Spellman is a great success, finally erasing the vestiges of the car dealership that had the building many years ago and blending the building into the rest of the block. The plumbing business is now an attractive companion for the rest of the block, which includes the Granada Theatre.
At the theater, the renovation project is speeding along and Emporia will soon have a new downtown center for the arts.
As well as things are going, there are still some troubling signs that there is still a long way to go to bring the city’s center back to robust health.
Between the railroad tracks and the campus, a number of buildings remain empty. In the center of the business district, the building that once housed Outfitters clothing store remains empty, years after that store closed. The block just north of the tracks has been sliding backward in recent months, having lost Phoebe’s restaurant and bakery, the DAV store and several small shops.
Why aren’t these buildings filling up? Are rents too high? Is Emporia running short of people able and willing to start new businesses?
The good news downtown is good indeed, but the empty buildings along Commercial Street serve as a reminder that revitalization is not a one-time project, but a continuing process. There is always more to do.
traceygraham (Tracey Graham) says...
Here's another downtown "plus":
A new breakfast-and-lunch place just opened up Monday, in the Kress Building. It's called "Amanda's". Soups, salads, sandwiches with a seasonal emphasis.
All the sandwiches on the menu look terrrific. I can personally vouch for the veggie sandwich - it's marvelous. I highly recommend the sunflower wheat bread. I can't wait to try the rest of the menu! As the weather gets colder, soup for lunch sounds good!
October 24, 2007 at 5:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )