This guest post is from our ally in downtown boostership, the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership:

Our attractive and highly valued Market Street retail streetscape is under siege lately. The CVS store, an anchor store located at the prime corner of Market and Third Streets, will disappear in the next month or so.   The PA. Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is contemplating vacating their location at 334 Market Street in the coming months.

The economic vitality and security of downtown Lewisburg is of paramount importance.  Ours is a walk-able town, with a diverse variety of restaurants, shops and services found along market Street. We have worked hard as a community to bring a new vibrancy to downtown; the economic stability, foot traffic, and over 700 related downtown jobs and convenience must not be jeopardized by news of the loss of two anchor businesses at the same time.

During a meeting with local business leaders and Representative Fred Keller not long ago, PLCB officials confirmed they are strongly considering an upgraded, premium, wine tasting store to boost sales here in Lewisburg. They believe additional space, a parking lot, and proximity to a grocery store will boost sales. The new owner of the CVS property has approached the PLCB offering as much space as they require, convenient proximity to side street parking and a borough parking lot, and the ability to create a destination store in a busy downtown commercial area.

Last week, our Senator, Gene Yaw, met with the leadership of the PLCB, representing our appeal that they allow store #6001 to remain on Market Street.  He emphasized the importance of the economic stability of our downtown and the importance of this cornerstone business along Lewisburg’s Market Street, in addition to the desire of our citizens and business owners that store #6001 remain downtown.

Senator Yaw is familiar with the $12.5M investment made by the State into downtown in 2012 through Bucknell University’s ‘Core Community Initiative’ completed in 2012.  This sum was in addition to the $250,000 Pennsylvania Main Street grant received by the Borough of Lewisburg between 2000 and 2005. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Bucknell have recognized the significance of Lewisburg’s downtown by sharing their resources and investment in many Market Street projects. Both the Commonwealth and Bucknell have signaled their commitment to our downtown’s vitality and commerce.

Without decisive action, the PLCB will finalize its intention of moving the state store from downtown Lewisburg.   The Leadership at PLCB is interested in hearing from us before finalizing their decision later this month and has invited concerned citizens to forward their interests by letter. Within the next week, we need to contact the decision makers at the PLCB and ask that they allow store #6001 to remain on Market Street.

Letters should include the following information:

• “I am writing to ask that state store #6001 remain on Market Street in Lewisburg.”
• If you are a regular patron of the store, please let them know.  Your opinion will carry more weight.

The PLCB’s priorities as an organization are the convenience of their customers and providing economic benefit to the state.  Please share your beliefs about how the Market Street location meets these priorities.  Some ideas you may use:

• Downtown is a convenient, safe and walk-able environment.
• Moving the store undermines the considerable state and local economic development investment in downtown Lewisburg.
• The loss of two anchors at one time will have a detrimental effect on downtown’s economic vitality.
• All communities in Pennsylvania are part of the state’s economy.

Your letter may be brief and direct.  It does not need to take a lot of time.  The most important thing is to clearly state your concerns as a citizen about the proposed move.

Mail the letter to:

PA Liquor Control Board,

Board Members, Mr. Tim Holden, Mr. Joseph Brion, Chair, and Mr. Michael Negra,

408 North West Office Building

Harrisburg, Pa.  17124

Please copy:

Senator Gene Yaw,

Room 362, Main Capitol

Harrisburg, Pa 17120-3280

Or for convenience, you may copy Senator Yaw through his Chief of Staff, Rita Zielonis, via email at ; rzielonis@pasen.gov

In addition, a petition is in circulation; a copy is available for signature at RAL Architect, 230 Market Street.

We quickly need to get at least 50 letters in the hands of the PLCB to demonstrate community interest.  If you will write a letter, please send a quick e-mail to Linda Sterling, Executive Director of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership.  You are encouraged to forward this email to anyone else you believe may be interested. Your time and help is appreciated.

Thank you,

Robert Lack, Architect and downtown business owner

Mayor Judy Wagner

Grace Mahon

Linda Sterling, lsterling@lewisburgpa.com