Officials unveil new brochure for self-guided walking tours in Pottsville

Hyun Soo Lee, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·2 min read

Feb. 14—POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Commission on Tourism unveiled the 2023 edition of its walking tour brochure Tuesday at the Yuengling brewery.

Jerry Enders, commission chairman, said this year's edition represents the "most significant" change to date for the brochures, which are updated and printed every two years.

The self-guided walking tour contains 56 sites, up from 54, which include restaurants, stores, breweries, historical markers and other local points of interest.

About 10,000 copies of the brochure have been printed.

Enders said the most notable change to the brochure this year is the addition of a QR code on the back.

The code leads to the Explore Schuylkill website, which has links to dining, lodging and other resources around Schuylkill County.

Other additions to the brochure include the new Alvernia University Pottsville CollegeTown campus, the Chopping Block and the "Greetings from Pottsville" decal on East Norwegian Street, as well as the replacement of the former Greystone Restaurant with the Park Tavern and Grille.

Enders said the new changes are reflective of Pottsville's progress over the past few years. He credited local leaders and entrepreneurs for bringing new ideas to town, which he believes has led to an "uptick" in business.

"There are so many new businesses that are opening that are really making it exciting — not just downtown, but throughout the city," Enders said. "It's really getting energized by the new businesses.

"The young people are making a difference."

The Pottsville Commission on Tourism brochure started 20 years ago as a single page named "19 Places You Don't Want to Miss in Pottsville" and has evolved into the current brochure that features 56 places of interest.

"It's really come a long way," said Enders, who credits his wife, Janet, for coming up with the idea.

Enders said the brochure is published at no cost to the city or taxpayers.

Printing costs are paid for by businesses and organizations that rent space on the "Welcome to Pottsville" changeable letter sign along Route 61 near Dunkin' as well as from donations by community supporters and tourism partners.

The committee's partners include the Pottsville Lions Club, Pottsville Area Development Corp. and Explore Schuylkill.

The Pottsville Commission on Tourism consists of Enders; Rich Torpey, president of Eastern Press; and Regina Gargano, executive director of Explore Schuylkill.

Joining the committee for the brochure announcement on Tuesday were Savas Logothetides, executive director of PADCO; Bill Derbes, president of the Pottsville Lions Club; and Debbie Altobelli, tour director, Jennifer Yuengling, vice president of operations, and Sheryl Yuengling, order services/administration, of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.

The 2023 Walking Tour brochure is available at businesses and at the Explore Schuylkill Visitors Center at 103 E. Union St.

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085