[ad_1]
October 21, 2022
NEWARK — When Mimi Sullivan became Bloom’s sole proprietor in 2004, she was drawn to the eclectic and welcoming atmosphere surrounding Newark’s Main Street. This lifestyle her boutique has been in business for her 18 years, during which time Sullivan has witnessed steady growth and development outside the store window.
tag:
you probably like it too
Premier Digital Partner
© 2022 Delaware Business Times

NEWARK — When Mimi Sullivan Became a Sole Proprietorship bloom In 2004, she was drawn to the eclectic and welcoming atmosphere surrounding Newark’s Main Street.
The lifestyle boutique has been in business for 18 years, during which time Sullivan has witnessed steady growth and development outside the store window. In 2022, Main Street has changed a lot, from the aesthetics of its buildings to the efforts of the businesses that live there.
“When I first moved to Main Street, it was very bohemian. I was.
city in flux
As a college town, home to the University of Delaware, Newark is a city in constant flux, with Main Street, its commercial hub, changing almost every year.

Restaurants, retailers and service providers often compete for the attention of the more than 20,000 students who walk the city’s streets, but Main Street has undergone a more glaringly dramatic change in the last decade. . For generations, national chain brands were rarely seen on Main Street, but now the boulevard is dotted with brands like 7-Eleven, Starbucks, Chipotle, Qdoba and Five Guys.
At the same time, long-standing small business staples such as Korner Diner, Margherita’s Pizza, Abbott’s Shoe Repair and Post House have either closed or moved away from Main Street.
Recalling what she considers to be the “golden age” of Main Street, Sullivan described the area as a vibrant place for families wanting to shop and enjoy an evening stroll. Sullivan said she knew that locals were keen to support local businesses and were interested in products made by artists, which was a big draw to the place.
After 13 years as a fashion designer in the industry, Sullivan jumped at the opportunity, freeing himself from office politics to pursue his own creative vision. She started her business with the aim of serving her niche beauty market.
“I saw a hole in retail. ‘ said Sullivan.
Marilyn Dickie is no stranger to navigating the changes and developments on Main Street. grassrootsFounded 47 years ago as a gift shop along the main street.
“We need more retail on Main Street. It’s all about food,” Dickie told the Delaware Business Times. I feel it.”
That said, the number of retailers has dropped sharply in recent years, in part because of rising rental levels, now around $30 per square foot for triple net leases. said Joe Latina. commercial real estate broker I’ve worked in Main Street business for a long time.
“You’ll still find a fair share of niche businesses and boutiques, but they’re becoming less and less viable. They simply can’t afford it,” he said.
change aesthetics
Main Street has changed significantly since Bloom began. Even at first glance, the aesthetic transformation of this area is striking.
“When we moved to Main Street, it was tree-lined. “Over time, old residential bungalows and colonial houses were demolished and replaced with boxy designs.”
Sullivan added that Broome’s original location near Cafe Gelato would be reworked in such a way that it would relocate to a storefront near Iron Hill Brewery.

But Main Street’s physical presence continues to change, with new apartment units slated to be built over much of the commercial corridor and up to seven stories behind the former historic Green Mansions. There is a Hyatt hotel. The city’s zoning code largely permits such mixed-use expansion despite opposition from residents, partly because UD enrollment has increased by 10% over the past decade, but Pencada’s Due to the closures, university-owned student residences are actually declining towers.
For Giammaro Marzcelli, owner of the historic Klondike Kate’s restaurant and bar, more Main Street residents and hotel visitors will only help his bustling business and that of other restaurants.
“When I visit a new place, I’m not sitting in a hotel room. I go out and explore and find somewhere to eat,” he said.
There are benefits for hotels as well. Hamilton’s on MainThe neighborhood fine dining but unpretentious restaurant was opened earlier this year by chef Jeremiah Brooks and his husband, Anthony. They started with a menu of small plates aimed at more affluent residents and visitors from the area rather than UD students, but Anthony Brooks said last month he had to adjust its tactics. .
“Our idea was to keep it basic, but since we changed the menu, sales have almost doubled,” he said, adding that the restaurant now has drinks while listing drinks on its menu. , which serves traditional appetizer dishes and wines by the glass, explained. “The beer and wine program has basically tripled.”
Anthony Brooks said he doesn’t yet see students as a major audience, but he recognizes that it’s difficult to succeed without student sponsorship. ) and extended working hours to midnight for more flexibility.
“We’ll never be $5 pitchers…that’s not who we are,” he said. “But we’ve suffered from the stigma of being a ‘flashy place’… If that makes you happy, come in yoga pants, jeans, or a t-shirt. Yes, it’s beautifully decorated.” , yes, our food is exquisite, our wine and beer are superb, but we are friendly.”
A change in strategy resulted in increased sales and bookings for private rooms at Main Street restaurants for 20 events.
Small shops may disappear
Area restaurants such as Iron Hill Brewery and Sante Fe Mexican Grill have survived on Main Street for years, but other independent establishments may be forced to venture outside the commercial centre. Hmm.

Rico Della-Monica, co-owner of Margherita’s Pizza, said increased competition from national brands, including the nearby Chipotle burrito franchise, has forced his pizzeria to cater to late-night crowds. rice field.
“We were just a little family-run shop competing with all these corporate brands coming up Main Street. Of course, business slowed down a bit,” he said. “We focused primarily on serving our students, but our daylight savings time [sales were] It gets worse. ”
Facing a very different commercial corridor than when they took over the store over 40 years ago, the Della Monica couple left their long-standing location at Park N Shop Plaza, about half a mile south of South Main Street. decided to of main street.
Four years later, Rico Della-Monica said it was the right choice. With enough parking space, we can better serve a more diverse clientele, including more families, business lunches, and college students.
“We had one customer come in who said they hadn’t been to the Main Street store in 15 years. I said I don’t want to.
The revitalized Newark shopping center already has several such eateries, and other developments will bring more opportunities.
Fusco Management’s mixed-use community development project — The Grove at Newark — is a College Square site comprising 26,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space to house, cater and entertain residents and locals. We aim to
Projects like The Grove are changing the landscape of Newark by offering “alternatives to Main Street,” says Fusco spokesman Brad Clason.
Clason said The Grove will undoubtedly have an impact on the area, with the project’s retail opportunities creating jobs and its 300 apartments attracting new residents.
“Our initial goal in designing this was to engage with the community,” says Clason.
For now, the small business owners who remain on Main Street are also trying to make a name for themselves in their city while navigating the ever-changing landscape.
“I still love it,” Dickie said of running a business on Main Street. “The other day, a young lady who went to college here 20 years ago came in and said, ‘I’m just passing by and I just wanted to come downtown. is.”
Reporter Emma Riley contributed to this article.
[ad_2]
Source link