Edinboro has changed a lot in the last four years. What was once an intersection comprised of three gas stations is now only two (BIG improvement there, seriously). New independent restaurants have come and (some) gone (Jack Rabbit Flats, Big Moe’s, Campus Dog…). McDonald’s converted to a 24 hour format. But a new committee in Edinboro doesn’t think that’s quite enough, and to be honest, I don’t think they’re going to help one bit.
A group called the Edinboro Growth Initiative is meeting for the first time today at the Comfort Suites in Edinboro at 5pm, as reported by GoErie.com. Their goal? “To garner community interest and input, and to create a vision that will shape the panel’s goals.” Basically, they’re looking for suggestions from “community members and university students” to what kind of businesses and events they would like to see in Edinboro.
Edinboro's idea of community revitalization. Now open 24 hours!
Kim Fabrizio, executive assistant to EUP President Jeremy Brown, made it crystal clear that the group’s goal is to “maintain this charm” that Edinboro has while attracting more people and businesses to the area. I’m gonna go ahead and assume they mean no dance clubs, head shops or Cold Stone Creameries. But can they really make the argument that Edinboro has charm? Opening three or four antique shops and limiting the use of neon lights in your town does not constitute classy-ness. If Edinboro had its own tourism video like Cleveland, I imagine its tagline would be something like “Edinborooooo, Pennsylvania: We used to be a lake resort, now we hawk Nazi memorabilia and overpriced coffee!”.
Has anyone ever been to Eclectic Etceteras? Great, a small town mom decided to turn her house into a coffee shop – awesome concept, something that would be on Oprah. It’s a college town, and college kids love coffee, so why shouldn’t this idea work?
This is the only photo I could find of Eclectic Etceteras online. If you have a business, learn about the internet.
The point is, the owner of E.E., Rene Thayler-Allison, is involved with this group as I’d imagine she would be since she’s also the President of the Edinboro Business Association. She expressed a strong desire for change when interviewed by the Erie Times-News, saying “”We have a great town, and there’s nothing wrong with living here now, but if we can maintain what we already have and continue to make the area better, it’s only going to benefit all of us.” Does anyone else think this whole concept is a bit unrealistic? The town and university have a hard time agreeing on ANYTHING, be it homecoming parades or how long a banner can be displayed downtown.
Most of these people have no idea what college students want, and quite frankly I don’t think they want to. They’re going to hold their meetings in the middle of the summer (when the student population is practically extinct) and keep saying “Oh we want student input, this is supposed to be for community members AND students!” when they know no students are going to show up. What college student would ever want a skatepark, arcade, non-Christian music venue or weekly flea market where students and residents could pay $5 to set up a table and sell stuff? No one wants that! Instead, they’ll all agree that what the town really needs is another dollar store or tanning salon or fast food joint to really boost our economy.
Yeah, that’ll do the fucking trick.
So you played the part of Hannity and Limbaugh by ripping the ideas apart. What do you have to offer? Not challenging – but rather encouraging some ideas.
Did you read my post? Skatepark. Arcade. Non-Christian music venue so we don’t have to see hardcore bands sing about Jesus. A weekly outdoor flea market where people could pay $5 to the borough and set up a table to sell their goods. That could bring in people from all over, and it’s not like we don’t have enough vacant lots to do it.
If I were in Edinboro for the summer, I’d attend these meetings in a heartbeat. I’m just being honest and saying I doubt any students will show up. If they do, awesome. I lack any faith in the non-student residents of Edinboro to come up with any ideas with students in mind. Don’t you know most of them hate anyone related to the university? They aren’t going to sacrifice their “charming” atmosphere (which I think they lack in the first place) for something actually cool.
I mean I’m glad they’re saying they want to do something, I’m just saying it’s unlikely anything cool will come of it, and I think they are starting it in the summer on purpose to limit student interaction. That’s just me.
“If you have a business, learn about the internet.”
Ha. Love it.
Also, I had no idea that you were female. I have been reading your posts with a man’s voice in my head. That will have to change. Unless you sound like a man, in which case, nothing needs to change.
Lastly, I am out of Edinboro for good come a month or so. I have a feeling if I ever come back, very little will have changed. Ever.
Hah, thanks
Yeah, Yourboro truely is more than one person. Could be male,could be female. So you were actually sort of right in that mental voice.
Where are you heading?
Yeah, Joe. You played the part of a douche. She encouraged having the meeting at a time when the students were on campus, so that the students could speak up about what they want.
Three things will help the downtown and attract businesses:
1) No cars for freshmen. They don’t need them. The campus (and town) are a ghost town by 3pm on Friday, so the two days students have the most time to walk around and spend money, they are at home. Plus, they will just as soon drive to Erie before spend it in Edinboro.
2) Create a monetary system on student ID cards that allow them to spend money in town. Many other college towns have this – even Behrend was able to transfer the LionCash program to Erie. This can’t be the same as Flex or whatever they call it now, but could be accepted at businesses that choose to participate. Renee Thayer actually proposed this idea to Pogue a few years ago, but you know that ideas equal treason at Edinboro.
3) Businesses need to be started by people NOT from Edinboro. I think 90% of Edinboro’s population has owned a business in town at one point by the number that have come and gone over my 25 year knowledge of the town. College kids don’t buy antiques, gourmet subs and hot dogs, or trophies. When there is a business that sells what the students want, another opens up and splits the market (R&S Sports vs. Brink Ink comes to mind).
Until students actually spend some time getting to know town, they won’t appreciate it and won’t spend their money. I was visiting a few weeks ago and heard students bitching about Dairy Queen closing. HELLO – Dairy Supreme is a million times better, locally owned, and cheaper. But students will always jump toward the comfort zone of ignorance.
I’ll reply in depth a little later, but Dairy Queens food is amazing, and they closed right around the time that they came out with a great deal on their chicken tenders/texas toast. Oh man.
But as far as ice cream goes, and supporting a local business, yeah going to the Dairy Supreme should definitely be the first choice
I know Gannon also has a monetary ID system where they can spend money at a ton of businesses right on State Street, from McDonald’s the Subway to the Marketplace to the Bistro. Why Edinboro wouldn’t consider this is beyond me.
And yourboro, I shall more than likely be moving to Los Angeles here in a month or two is things work out as planned.
Yourboro,
Thank you for your points. I would like to clarify a couple. Eclectic Etceteras is open Sunday from 8:30 am – 11:30 am and Monday – Saturday from 8:30 am – 4 pm. I have been asked to reopen in the evenings (something I am open to) as I was when I first opened. But given the current economy, didn’t think it would be something others would support. I have also considered a value menu (as McDonald’s calls it) and perhaps I will have just that in the fall. It is hard to maintain quality and reduce the prices, but I am looking into it. And I do not live upstairs. That being said you have a number of points that I think definately add to what we need to do here.
Nature’s Outlet would be a perfect location to have a flea market/farmer’s market that would go from April or May through to October. The issue that would need to be addressed would be the vending license, as the Boro requires one. It would be even more wonderful to be able to have a street fair as the bricked areas along the main corridor were installed with that in mind. Again the issue of a vending permit comes into play.
A skate park again is another great idea. I am watching with interest what SkateErie has done and cannot wait to see the final result. I was personally saddened when Shebang closed. There is an indoor park that was in Cleveland, Big Happy’s, that would be a great idea for Edinboro. Take a vacant warehouse, gut it and fill it with half pipes and ramps. Makes a lot more sense given our climate. The liability insurance is where the problem lies. If that can be overcome, it is an idea far overdue.
Boro Dollars is something that as long as I have lived here is an idea that has been considered. It would be great to have for everyone, not just for students, but anyone living here. Hopefully it will come to fruition. Thank you, Joseph, for pointing out that the idea was presented a few years ago. It is being looked into.
The meeting was not held in the summer to un-include anyone. It was just a start up as there are many things that need to be organized before the idea process even begins. This is just the beginning. Every idea is welcome. Edinboro is a diverse community and all voices should be heard.
Again, thank you for your comments.
Renee,
Thanks for your comments. I apologize for the misconceptions about your shop, and I want to make it clear that by no means did I mean to belittle the responsibilities of owning and operating a small town business. I’m certain it is very demanding, especially with a family.
I simply wanted to point out that there does seem to be a large rift between “townies” and the university, and I’m sure you and the organization’s intentions are good – we’d all love to see some kind of unity. My criticism was just that I have little to no hope for a positive outcome, judging solely from what I’ve seen here in personal experiences.
I know it seems like pointless nay-saying and negativity, but that’s what a blog is all about. My comments are simply editorializing and I bear no expertise when it comes to the world of small town development, and I hope no one believes that I do. I am glad there can be an open discussion about it. Thanks again.
A large part of the problem in Edinboro is the attitudes of the University vs the attitudes of the Borough municipal government.
The whole “you need us more than we need you” thing has to go away because unlike a large corporation (like GE), Edinboro University can’t just pack up and leave.
So the residents and the university are stuck with each other. The residents have to know that treating the University like a cancer (“Those damn college kids”) is a sure way to stagnate any type of forward movement.
And the University has to know that trying to isolate itself from the borough (“Those idiot hick townies”) takes away from the appeal of bringing in students from other areas.
Ironically, both entities reference the other when promoting themselves, yet this is obviously transparent advertising fluff when it comes to reality.
What it will come down to is the strength of individual leadership personalities that are positive towards each side.
“If you have a business, learn about the internet.”
Um, the coffeehouse has a personal website and pages on both MySpace and Facebook. A simple Google search would have turned that up. Really, was a little research so difficult?
Yes. The worst website of all time. A little research could have turned that up