February 21, 2008 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or Winner of Two |
Business leaders optimistic despite Avenue store closures
The Avenue’s retail variety continues to be an overriding concern for community and business leaders and residents in Chestnut Hill, especially with the recent loss of two shops and the upcoming sale of Caruso’s Market. Just last week, at a meeting of Weavers Way held to discuss the possibility of the co-op opening a second location in Chestnut Hill, people expressed their frustration over the number of local bank branches; it was clear that those in attendance preferred the grocer. And more uncertainty is likely. The sale of Caruso’s Market has people wondering if the grocery will remain open (the market’s owners, the Marano family, insist that the store will remain a grocery store, although they will not reveal the identity of the buyer) and the recent departure of two women’s boutiques leaves the Avenue with two more vacancies, adding to the nine vacant store fronts, according to the Chestnut Hill Business Association already on the Avenue between Cresheim Valley Drive and Chestnut Hill Avenue. In August, the Local discussed the Avenue’s changing retail mix, and the many bank branches that have reduced that variety. At the time, business leaders had said women’s boutiques were the most requested use for the Avenue’s retail storefronts, but in the past few weeks, two women’s boutiques, Evangeline and Lamaj De’Amor have left. Evangeline, which specializes in clothing for heavier women, is moving to the South Philadelphia area of the city, according to a sign in its window, and the owner of Lamaj, Tonya Starks-Powell, shut down the Chestnut Hill location just a few months after she closed her store in Skippack. So what’s next for these sites? The Business Improvement District and Chestnut Hill Business Association are making an effort to help vacant property owners find suitable and interested retailers for the Avenue. A list of 21 businesses that have approached the business association since Dec. 1, with an interest in opening businesses in Chestnut Hill, has been compiled, and Kate O’Neill, the office assistant and event coordinator at CHBA, shared the list with the Chestnut Hill Community Association, which owns the former Lamaj building, and Richard Auritt, who owns the former Evangeline location. On the list, O’Neill said, are a variety of retailers, including jewelers, home and garden stores, professional offices, yoga studios and an art studio. As for the kind of stores the two groups would like to see on the Avenue, O’Neill and Bonnie Greenberg, president of the BID, both said women’s boutiques would still be attractive retailers for the Hill. Greenberg said she believed the Avenue was doing well in the midst of “a very difficult retail environment right now,” referring to the nationwide concern over the economy, an upcoming presidential election and construction that has closed the Avenue connection between Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. She attributed the closing of Evangeline and Lamaj to her belief that they “didn’t hit the pulse of Chestnut Hill.” Greenberg said restaurants would be nice, but with the two new ones — Bocelli and Cuba! — he added that “it doesn’t feel as important as it once did.” Bocelli, an Italian restaurant at 8630 Germantown Ave., just opened and Cuba!, at 8609 Germantown Avenue, is opening soon. Fran O’Donnell, owner of O’Doodles toy store and the Hill’s new main street manager, said he would like to see more restaurants on the Avenue. He said having restaurants that serve as community gathering places and destination spots would help the Avenue. John Ingersoll, the Parking Foundation president, agreed. “Look at Cake,” Ingersoll said, referring to the bakery that opened as a lunch and dinner restaurant on Highland Avenue this summer. “They are packed almost every day. People need more venues.” O’Donnell said that in his new managerial position he hoped to encourage businesses to stay open later — citing 7 p.m. as an ideal time. “Locals would like places to go in the evenings,” he said, and if there were going to be restaurants open it would help to have shops open too. Generally, both the CHBA and BID agree that more bank branches are not desirable on the Avenue. The CHCA is seeking proposals to fill the former Lamaj store location, said Community Manager Martha Sharkey, and it already has several interested parties looking at the space. “The most important thing is that we move forward with a new business that adds to the retail corridor and is a good fit for the commercial mix,” Sharkey said. One property that will become vacant in the fall that has the space for a bank branch is Chico’s Clothing store (which is scheduled to close in September) at Germantown and Evergreen avenues. Currently, the other three corners of that intersection are dominated by banks — Wachovia, Bank of America and Commerce Bank. But O’Donnell’s family owns that building, and he said a host of non-bank retailers have expressed interest in the location. He said those most interested have been regional retail chains with a “similar use” to Chico’s. Ingersoll said the retail mix on the Hill was not bad, but more stores are needed to serve the community and bring shoppers to the Avenue. “We need stores that are going to bring people here for everyday needs, not just people looking for antiques,” he said. Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819 or Kristin@chestnuthilllocal.com.
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