Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Beat The Winter Blues tonight on 7th

Tonight on 7th, the Seventh Street Development Committee is offering a chance to Beat the Winter Blues if you are currently experiencing any.

There will be a chance to meet your neighbors, hear a review of all the exciting things that have accomplished on 7th this past year and learn about what's in store for 2010 and how you can get involved.

Plus there will be yummy food from a few of the great restaurants on 7th and raffle prizes!

Please come for a bit...we'd all love to meet you.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Facades Carry On In Freezing Temps

Just in case you were all wondering what I focus on during the winter or better yet worrying that facades weren't being worked on in freezing temps...check out the new happy garden sign. It's still at the shop waiting for the facade to get done but has really come out great.Located at 501 N 7th Street where the old 7th Street Glass used to be, Happy Garden serves up great authentic chinese meals every day, 7 days per week. They have the greatest lunch specials at $4.95.
Part of the design was to include a pictogram of the words Happy Garden

Seventh Street on WFMZ

Seventh Street's successes—and our role as likely future host for an Italian culinary school—were featured in a WFMZ story. Check out the video.


Saturday, January 9, 2010

Seventh Street in the News

Here's Peter Lewnes, quoted in a Morning Call article from January 3rd:

Peter Lewnes, manager of Allentown's Seventh Street Development Committee, attributes Emmaus' success in part to its attractive storefronts and low vacancy rate -- the more occupied shops a town has, the more other business owners are apt to move in.... "We went from a 40 percent vacancy rate [on Seventh Street] to about 100 percent occupied,'' Lewnes said. ''In this economy there has been a lot of forward movement.'' He said there has been a push for years to create a similar program along the Hamilton Street corridor, but funding for that has not been available.

And today, from Michael Molovinsky's blog:

Peter Lewnes has been doing an excellent job of filling in the gaps on 7th Street, and applying facade grants in a seemingly appropriate way. On Saturdays one is hard pressed to find a parking space. I believe that his enthusiasm, and a growing community's ambition, has finally awakened 7th Street from a long sleep.


Thursday, January 7, 2010

Draped in Flags

Have you noticed the wind-whipped flags that now mark many Seventh Street businesses? They feature the city's seal, and fly above businesses and properties that have received facade facelifts through the Seventh Street Development Committee.


Sunday, January 3, 2010

2010 Make 7th Street Sparkle Contest Winners

Our Winners!
VQUEZ Party Supplies - 144 N 7th Street for best storefront. If you have not visited there, Norma and Luis Vasquez have everything under the sun for a party.

The Condolaria family in the 800 block of 7th Street won for best residence display. They received gift certificates for Winston's West Indian and American Restaurant and Hardware Plus as well as a floral arrangement from Paradise Floral Designs.

thank you to all the merchants and residents that participated in making 7th Street sparkle with holiday decorations this year!

Sparkle Sparkle Everywhere

that's right folks...for year three we ushered in the cold weather in strict 7th Street style...with hot cocoa and cider, good cheer and holiday lights along the corridor. Approximately 50 volunteers made it to our Make 7th Street Sparkle event...this year with a competition for best holiday displays - residential and storefront.

our tree - newly planted and sustainable...it will grow as 7th Street continues it's growth!

not just the decorations were sparkling...check out everyone's smiles...thanks guys
(Sarah Fulton, Duane Yodi Vaden, Miriam and Mike enjoying themselves)
more revelers
Organization Committee's Kathleen Kapila making sure everyone knows we are set to sparkle...Thanks Kathleen, Becky and the rest for making this event a great success!Pastor Lamb and friend from St Luke's Lutheran Church...thanks to Leslie Talago - newly appointed 7th Street Board member and great all around community advocate for all your help in pulling this off!