Downtown indicators moving 'slowly but surely' in right direction

Dec. 11—WILKES-BARRE — Larry Newman, Executive Director at the Diamond City Partnership, Friday told about 20 members of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association that "slowly but surely," the downtown's key market indicators continue to move in the right direction.

"However, this is also a time of big change for Downtown," Newman said. "Some of those changes — such as the absence of so many workers and the loss of longtime businesses — are upsetting and disconcerting."

Newman gave his report at the meeting held at the jewel of the city's downtown, the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, where Friday night, one of America's top comics, Jerry Seinfeld, was to appear before two sell-out crowds.

With 3,600 patrons heading to the Kirby Center, Newman and Joell Yarmel, the Kirby's executive director, said the downtown would be bustling with customers for restaurants in the city.

A bit of irony here — "Newman" is the name of a recurring character and antagonist on the television show Seinfeld, portrayed by Wayne Knight from 1992 until the show's finale in 1998. He is Jerry's arch-nemesis and Kramer's friend.

But Larry Newman is no nemesis to Seinfeld, rather he appreciates what acts like Seinfeld mean to the success and vibrancy of the city's downtown.

"When the Kirby is lit up, the downtown becomes vibrant and busy," Newman said. "The Kirby Center embodies the image of the downtown and its future. Downtown's growing residential population is part of that future — as are visitors to the Kirby Center and our other arts and entertainment venues, our colleges, and, yes, downtown workers."

Yarmel talked about how the Kirby Center is coming back from its 16-month shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said just last week, the Kirby Center had a full house for Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

"We're excited,"Yarmel said. "We've hired five new employees and we are moving forward. Downtown is bustling again."

Workforce statistics

In his report, Newman explained the shift in DCP's approach to promoting the downtown. He said as of November 2022, 49% of the city's pre-pandemic employee corps has returned.

"This is due to the substantial shift of people working from home or at remote locations," Newman said. "We really can't bank on conditions ever returning to pre-pandemic levels."

So, Newman said, a different philosophy has been adopted.

"We must create a downtown where people want to be, not have to be," he said. "One area we have seen significant growth is on downtown residents — 30% higher than pre-pandemic."

Newman said DCP has tracked a 78% recovery of downtown visitors, people who travel to the downtown to shop, have appointments, eat at restaurants, but who don't live in the downtown.

Newman mentioned the recent announcement by Wilkes University and D7D Realty Group to transform the vacant building at 116 South Main St., into a multi-use building. Wilkes will occupy the first floor and basement of the building and D&D Realty will create 36 apartments on the upper floors.

"This is great news," Newman said. "A vacant four-story window-less box being transformed is incredibly encouraging news."

New businesses

Newman then mentioned several new Downtown storefront businesses:

—Small Batch Baking Company at 45 East Northampton St.

—Furology Pet Grooming at 59 North Main St.

—Luisito Jewelry at 81 South Washington St.

—Stagger's Southern Cuisine at 78 South Main St.

Additionally, Newman said the Chill Grill restaurant will be reopening under new ownership at 100 North Pennsylvania Ave. this month.

"We must continue to focus on things we can control," Newman said. "That means working to advance our ultimate goal of creating a downtown that people visit because they want to be here — not one that they visit because they're required to be here. If we focus on fostering a downtown environment that serves as an amenity for all those groups, then we'll continue to see new business growth at street level, and Downtown will continue to rebound."

Newman ended his report by giving an update on the new stage being constructed on Public Square and he recapped the successful events held in the downtown in 2022.

John Maday, president of the DWBBA, raved about the annual Holiday Window Painting Project, reporting that 25 downtown businesses participated. Maday said an Artists Appreciation event will be held Jan. 18, at Rodano's at 5 p.m.

Patricia Parks, chair of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Residents Association, said the group will also resume in-person meetings soon and she will report back at the next DWBBA meeting.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.