The East Market market
Two steps forward and one back in the ongoing revitalization of the East Market Street area just outside downtown.
On the plus side, Greensboro developer John Kavanagh hopes to build affordable residences on Murrow Boulevard, where the old Galloway Buick/Flow Isuzu dealership and the Pet Dairy building now sit.
Also on the plus side, the parent demonination of a nearby church, the House of Prayer, seems very serious about remaking the old Post Office into something new and beneficial to the surrounding businesses and neighborhoods.
Mac Sims of the East Market Street Development Corp. said last week that several ideas are still in play, from housing to a community center to a hotel.
The House of Prayer also could move its popular basement restaurant from the church basement to the old Post Office, where parking is much more plentiful than the church's cramped lot.
On the negative side, the Lee-Dudley shopping center, at the corner of Market, Murrow and Friendly, appears to be struggling. The Krispy Creme outlet there went out of business and a new tenant for its corner spot has not materialized. Wright's Pharmacy was supposed to take that spot, according to prominent signs. But it has disappeared altogether. Meanwhile, a new restaurant in the center, Tuscana, is spacious and pleasant with good food and gracious service.
But traffic is slow at the restaurant, which is depending largely on a strong banquet business to build a customer base.
It would be nice to see the new eaterie do well. (I saw some Arts Council leaders there during a recent lunch.) So far, however, the only restaurant that consistently attracts business from "across the tracks" downtown is the House of Prayer, whose healthy helpings of soul food apparently have a universal attraction.
Comments (2)
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Interesting, Allen. Would you blog such a call for business for any struggling biz in town or is this particular one, due to its location, special? There are lots of good eateries who could use this sort of PR.
Posted on July 24, 2006 2:45 PM
Good question, Sue.
I actually have, in the case of places like Liberty Oak and Fincastle's coming downtown, but only in the context of their broader meaning for balanced group and economic development throughout the city. Same case here, in the east, where restaurants beyond fast-food joints are so incredibly rare.
Similarly, we've lauded the progress of private, for-profit projects as the Wachovia tower and the baseball park.
But I promise I won't go too far. No menus or discount coupons. That's the advertising department's domain.
Posted on July 24, 2006 3:06 PM