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City stalwart would like some company Ron Bartizek Business LOCAL

Sunday December 13, 2009 | 12:00 AM

For years, Michaelene Maslow’s view through the display windows of her women’s clothing store was of vacant, crumbling South Main Street storefronts, left behind as venerable names like Norton’s Dress Shop and John B. Stetz men’s clothier closed and no one stepped in to take their places.

Now, Maslow is worried about the opposite perspective; someone opening in the University Corners complex will be staring at boarded up buildings surrounding Place 1 at the Hollywood. Downtown’s biggest landlord may have some good news for Maslow.

“I have most of my space leased up,” said Rob Finlay, president of Humford Equities. “The small units that I had are now filled” and he refers inquiries to the company that assumed management of University Corners a year ago.

While Public Square and the first block are dotted with dining spots and nightclubs, more retail shops like the recently opened Tilbury Knob should sprout down the street. That’s fine with Maslow, and she has an idea what will succeed.

“The chains aren’t what makes a downtown,” she said. Instead shoppers will be attracted to unique places “that are not in the mall.”

Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development think tank, which is located downtown, agrees that retail is the logical next step in development and it’s also a key component in attracting more residents.

When there’s a nice mix of retail, arts and entertainment “people can come to downtown for more than one reason,” Ooms said. “The more diversity and the more density the more people it attracts.”

Two more pieces of the downtown renewal puzzle now need to come together, and with any luck next year they will. Even under the most pessimistic scenario, the shift of buses from the Square to the long-delayed transportation center should happen next spring. That will allow the addition of angle parking and the reconstruction of bumpy, disfigured sidewalks.

And there needs to be more entertainment than dancing bartenders. During a recent bus ride Jim Snyder, who has worked in Boscov’s shoe department for years, was a seatmate. He made a suggestion that could add some holiday sparkle – a Christmas market of vendors selling ornaments, crafts and small gift items.

Frank Pasquini, who is heading up efforts of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association, has his own ideas, including a logical collaboration with events at the River Common (he’s one of the people planning the program there). Working together, “we could magnify our investment,” he said.

That kind of cooperation will be important and it needs to reach beyond volunteers and the city administration. Enthusiastic participation by the merchants who are meant to be beneficiaries of event traffic will add another dimension to visitors’ experience and help businesses succeed and expand.

If that happens, Maslow will be there to welcome them. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said.

About the Author

Ron Bartizek covers business for the Times Leader. Reach him at (570) 970-7157 or rbartizek@timesleader.com.

Ron Bartizek has more than 30 years' newspaper industry experience, in advertising, news, general management and ownership. He has been business editor of the Times Leader since mid-2005.