Progress

Downtown on the move

LEWISTOWN -- Don't look now, but Lewistown's downtown is on the move.

Most of the downtown storefronts have been filled with popular hot spots, like East End Coffee Co. and Downtown OIP and Grille, along with long-time establishments like Laskaris Restaurant.

"Finding the right place for the right business is the challenge," said Jim Zubler, executive director of Downtown Lewistown Inc. "We work with them upfront and try to understand who their clients are and where they are coming from.

"Once we understand all of those things then we can go to work," he added.

That process takes time. A lot of the recent developments for downtown Lewistown have been in the planning stages for years.

"It doesn't happen overnight," Zubler said. "Using a methodical, managed approach is absolutely critical."

"The community is really benefiting from a nucleus of young entrepreneurs, supported by older corporations," Zubler said. "We're blessed to have these young people.

"We continue to look at programs that assist them in bettering their businesses," he added.

Mike Buffington, a property investor for a handful of multi-use properties within downtown Lewistown and the surrounding areas, agrees.

"There's more of a demand than we've seen in years," Buffington said.

He explained the key to attracting new businesses to downtown is redeveloping the larger vacant spaces to suit the needs of the business environment today. The 11,000-square-foot space that housed former furniture stores Kauffman's then Capperella Furniture are too big for businesses looking for space today.

Buffington is working on dividing that space into four suites for new business. Three of those have been rented.

"We're remodeling them in a way that makes sense for today's business and retail demands," he said.

Buffington has also renovated other multi-use spaces where the first floors house commercial business and the upper floors are residential. He, too, has taken advantage of assistance programs like the DLI's Facade Improvement Program.

"We typically apply for that because a lot of these buildings need a little extra attention," Buffington said. "I'm thrilled with the direction that downtown Lewistown is going. In the past couple of years, we've seen more momentum and more activity than we've seen in years past."

Ryan and Lillah Cherry, owners of the East End Coffee Co., graduated from Lewistown Area High School in 2007 and spent a lot of time in downtown Lewistown growing up.

"There was literally nothing in town for anyone to do between the ages of 16 and 35," Ryan Cherry said. "It felt kind of barren."

Cherry, who graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, would meet clients for web or graphic design at fast food restaurants because they were the only suitable meeting places. That It also served as a catalyst for starting his business.

"I love coffee and there was no place around here to meet," he said. His coffee shop opened in May 2017.

He also encouraged others to open businesses, including the Batter and Dough Bakeshop, Hometown Potters Studio and Mill Street Barber Shop, which share the same space.

He also helps promote First Friday, where small businesses and organizations show their support of music, art, food and community in downtown Lewistown and the surrounding area.

"There have been offices there you would never know about," Cherry said. "There's just not a lot of retail or public places. Our shop feels lively, but there's always room for more improvement.

"Downtown Lewistown is evolving constantly," he added. "I'm happy we are evolving with things."