WOOSTER RENEWED

WOOSTER RENEWED | A THIRTY YEAR JOURNEY OF REDISCOVERY

30 Years of Downtown Revitalization! 

The plans, ideas, some implemented, some now just history. “Wooster Renewed…a Thirty year journey of rediscovery” tells the story of the past 30 years and the Main Street Wooster, Inc. organization, which is dedicated to the economic sustainability and preservation of downtown Wooster.

With a grant from the Wayne County Community Foundation, “Wooster Renewed” tells the story of the downtown, from a historical perspective.

In 1987, Wooster’s once bustling downtown was looking time-worn and needing a “facelift”. Retail occupancy had dropped to 42% and superficial attempts at beautification had not kept the customers from the malls, a huge change in shopping and restaurants. Main Street Wooster, Inc., a process for downtown change of preservation of our traditional buildings and “heart of the city” ambiance, began to implement what is now a thirty year story of public and private reinvestment and visioning what a renewed small-town downtown could be.

Today, there is more than 90% occupancy in retail, restaurant and service businesses, “on the street” and 96% occupancy in the second and third stories of the buildings, showcasing more than 148 lofts and 15 condominiums.

Pictures and text tell the story of the change, of the collaboration and visioning of so many and the support of the community.

Purchase

Cost of the book is $20.00 and can be purchased at the Main Street Wooster office (377 West Liberty/The Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce), Wooster Gift Corner, Books In Stock, Local Roots, and the Florence O. Wilson Bookstore, in Lowry Center, at the College of Wooster.