Print

Welcome, Guest

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[NightmarePatrol]

Click here to read the tribune story

So Meadville wants to try the main street program again. I guess this is as close to "urban renewal" as it will ever get in Meadville. I have seen several attempts at this. Some have succeded wildly and some have failed miserably. Unfortunately the locations have all been in California and not in and around Pennsylvania. Granted the cultures are different, but the intrinsic needs of the people and the economy are pretty static across board.

What I have seen succeed has been where demographic research was done properly. That means who has the disposable income and what to they want to spend it on? In all instances there has not been one big box retail store in the mix. There have been many small specialty chain restaurants that offer up something between fast food and elegant dining. Most have been small in size, seating no more than 60 people. That of course would be on the larger side for Meadville, so scale is important.

Shopping has been varied where I have seen it and I think that it needs to fit the communities needs. For example Meadville probably doesn't need a Crate & Barrel. What it probably needs is some options for clothing other then the few stores it does have. I'm not talking boutique stores with insanely expensive clothes, but stylish clothes that will attract the younger customers who have the money to spend. I'd even bet that a small Victorias Secret could survive in downtown. I'm sure that there are a lot of women who are tired of buying bras and panties at the whatevermart stores.

There needs to be some eclectic influence. Enough to get the Allegheny students to go there along with the locals. I hope the community sees that there is a lot of money that is not getting spent in town, but in the Millcreek Mall by people that are going there to get something that should be available in Meadville.  There also need to to be stores to cater to the locals as well. Yes the needs are different than those of the students.

Without going into a giant dissertation of that I have seen I will say this. Wherever I have seen it work the original building facades or recreations thereof have remained. To be honest I think a revitalized downtown with one or two storefront facades would look atrocious.

I just hope that whoever heads this up doesn't want to try and keep Meadville in the 1960's and preserve what it was. I would find that sad because the look of what it once was can easily be melded with the promise of what it could be. I hope they think long, hard and with an open mind.

[bighair80s]

i really think if they put  this issue into the hands of allegheny college students to make their college town a renowned place, it could work. they are the young, most likely liberal set that knows what appeals...

[NightmarePatrol]

Well they are certainly going to know what is appealing. to the youth. I think they could/would bring a lot of interesting influence to the table. It's going to take a lot of hands in making the decisions, but if done properly it would work.  As much as some of us old codgers would like to see GC Murphy reappear on the landscape it would not do downtown a bit of good really.

[bighair80s]

i am not a liberal type at all but can appreciate the progressive nature of that school of thought and admit it is beneficial at times.  i think the college students would be a really good source of energy and forward looking ideas, and us old codgers can be the tempering agent in the mix...

[NightmarePatrol]

I honestly don't know what the political environment is at the school. It has traditionally like most colleges been awash in liberalism. That changes for many as they get older and perhaps wiser. Either way the tide turns to parity. I think my point is that if left up to the 45 and up crown that leaves Meadville occasionally to visit the outlet malls in Grove City (Greenville?) to experience some culture then the whole project will be doomed to failure. As much as it pains Meadvilles planners and COC keep the outside out... the outside ain't all bad...

There's some pretty cool ideas that Meadville hasn't probably even heard of that could make an impression and even might put it back on the map.

[Foodie]

Great topic ~ Since I live here in Meadville and probably shop out of town for most specialty stuff here is what takes me to other cities to shop and spend my money:

I actually drive to THE STRIP in Pittsburgh for fresh fish, cheese, ethnic foods...etc.   Remember Miceli's Fruit and Seafood?  That was a great place to shop and it was run by a great family that has lived here for a long time.   Honestly, there is no where in Meadville to buy fresh fish like they sold at Micelis.   You won't find me at the local stores buying up all that fish and seafood from Asian countries.   Wholeys is a great place to get fresh fish, seafood and lunch. 

I love ethnic stores like the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co, Penzeys Spices and some of the Asian markets.   

I would love to see the Market House have more vendors like they do on The Strip.  Bakeries, antique dealers, book stores, BBQ, fabrics, gifts.....all kinds of vendors set up along the streets and sell their goods on the weekends.   Overall, it's a fun day for us to get in the car and take the hour & half drive down to Pittsburgh.

You can often find me in Erie shopping as well.   I love Wegmans grocery store and find the prices are much lower there than in most of our stores here.   The fresh food selections are also over the top, not to mention the ready made foods for those stretched for time and who needs a quick delicious meal to serve the family. 

When DH and I travel out of state for vacations, the first place we would consider visiting are historical places.   Places that take the older part of town and emphasize on it's rich history.    Many of these places are appealing to the eye with nice benches alongside the streets, planters and window boxes, nice outside lighting, store fronts that have been taken care of, store owners that care for their customers and go out of the way to make their shopping experience a good one. 

I'm sure there will be more to add as I remember it....My mind is not up to par these days.    I do hope that Meadville can find a way to present itself to attract more visitors and shoppers to downtown. 

[CindyLouWho]

Made a Wegmans trip just yesterday.  How many kinds of olives can one store possibly have?  And cheese?  Wow.  I am always amazed.  Love their selections of dried fruits.  My son ALWAYS makes sure to ask for cashew butter.  They have awesome almond butter too.  Hummus,  15 kinds.  At least.  organcs.  If you're into them, they got 'em.  I could go on and on.......I love the umbrellas by the door on the way out if it's raining.   

[Foodie]

Cindy, I have never tried the flavored butters but have been curious about them.   What do you use them on?   Toast or Bagels?

I know what you mean about the olives......I usually get a container to eat in the parking lot before I head home or to the mall.    I also love hummus but hubby isn't fond of it.

And all those cheese selections - LOL.    I do love that store.

[bighair80s]

im feeling hungry, any one else feeling hungry?

[Foodie]

im feeling hungry, any one else feeling hungry?

Yes I am as a matter of fact 

[CindyLouWho]

My sone likes cashew butter on bagel chips.  I like it on english muffins.

[Kimmi]

I think the downtown shops (what few there are at the moment) should have one Saturday a month where Chestnut street closes between the cross streets and they have live entertainment downtown and keep their shops open!!  This would be a great way to bring people into town and to get them in the shops they drive by everyday.  This would also give local bands the opportunity to showcase themselves. 

We had something called Alive after 5 here in Raleigh where they had cover bands come in every other Thursday downtown.  There would be beer tents, street vendors, and the stores in the area would stay open.  People came right after work and it ended around 9.  It was so much fun.  We don't have it anymore because they reconstructed that part of downtown.  I miss it!  I could see Meadville do something like that from the Diamond down Chestnut street to Park Ave. 

[Foodie]

Kimmi, that is a great idea and I think they tried this before......The only vendors that showed up were a few food vendors and the food was nothing but fair food.    I know Mr Foodie and I were not impressed to return the following year PLUS the stores didn't stay open.    I really thought that was what it was all about. 

I loved the car shows they had often around the Diamond Park and at Lang Motors.   I don't think that is an event down there now?   

[TiFeMb]

remember bear wrestling on lower chestnut?

[shortcircuit]

remember bear wrestling on lower chestnut?

With real bears?