There literally is a little bit of everything right in a three-block-by-two-block chunk of a city with a lot wrong at nearly every other turn. Wheeling is a city riddled and has been for 50 years.
A pretty profitable business model was in place last century in the downtown area for more than a few decades, and that’s because it took care of itself. Not only did consumers from near and far descend daily on Main and Market streets, but so did the folks who lived on the floors above the stores.
That’s not the case any longer, and the new model for retail sales doesn’t even involve brick and mortar let alone a butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker, but in Centre Market, a little bit of all the above just works.
Why?
· Those floors above the stores are full of residents.
· There are more eateries than anything else.
· In many respects, Valley Cheese serves as the general store.
· Coffee, craft beer, and cool clothing.
· Antiquities, holistic items, fine wines, and, if someone needs a haircut or style?
It’s all there, and that is why its visitors remember things like the snappy shirts at Ziklag, the generous pours at Market Vines, and the wonderful simplicity of two slices of white bread and two white fish fillets. The place literally sinks in.
So, a simple question (“Curious … What is Wheeling’s Centre Market to you?”) was posted on Facebook and drew these reactions:
Where I used to go to lunch every Friday when I went to Saint Al’s.
To me, it’s like Old Town
It’s part of my family history. My great grandfather owned a harness shop there. Now my cousin owns a clothing shop there!
A great place for small businesses.
It’s Towngate, Later Alligator, Coleman’s, Wheeling Flower Shop, dance studios, and so many little shops … It’s a destination!!
The heart of Wheeling.
Plenty of choices for lunch/dinner. Great place to sit and eat.
It’s the fish sandwich I must have every time I return home to Wheeling.
Revitalized!
But … is it?
Johnny Haught
The forgotten start to the revitalization of Wheeling.
Nary a Beat
While that two-block-by-three-block historical destination has been reinvigorated by the public and private sectors during the past decade, but the same head-to-toe economical makeover has not taken place between 10th and 16th streets.
Hundreds of jobs were added by the relocation of The Health Plan’s headquarters within the 1100 block, about 90 residential loft apartments have been mostly filled since 2015, and several restaurants offer lunch and dinner services at least five days per week, but a vacant storefront in downtown Wheeling seems permanent while an open space in Centre Market fills quickly.
“It didn’t happen overnight, but Centre Market has been very successful thanks to the city’s support and the fact that the business and property owners bought in,” explained Kurt Zende, the president of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce who guided the revival as the city’s economic development specialist. “And I get asked all the time if the same is possible in our downtown, and the answer is yes, but that’s a whole different monster.
“But there have been good things taking place in downtown, and with the Wheeling-Pitt apartments and the new parking garage on Market (street), even more of the private sector will respond,” he said. “Good things are coming, but again, this stuff doesn’t happen overnight.”
A downtown mall in the 1970s, and a Victorian outlet mall in the early 2000s. Those were two of the big ideas Wheeling folk have had and a downtown beautification project similar to the $25 million streetscape that should begin along Main and Market streets this year took place in 1995 before the outlet mall proposal was to begin.
Those red bricks still surround the trees, but the sidewalks are uneven, many of the buildings now are vacant, and storefront vacancies on Market Street are aplenty between 12th and 14th streets.
“A lot of people apparently thought the outlet mall thing would have worked if the money from the state would have come through,” Zende explained. “The city was supposed to get $35 million from the state, but it got held up in lawsuits, and time ran out, and here we are. Instead, the Ohio County Commission received the money for The Highlands.
“Downtown Wheeling isn’t dead, though, and once the parking garage and the streetscape are completed, and the apartments are good to go in the Wheeling-Pitt building, we’re going to see a lot of positive changes take place. I know there are people who have their doubts, and that’s fine,” the Chamber president said. “Let those folks be pleasantly surprised.”
Private & Public
The two market houses along Lane B and Market Street are owned and maintained by the City of Wheeling, and Brooke Stull has followed Zende as the new manager.
Her duties, of course, entail the upkeep of the two historic structures as well as recruiting new tenants when necessary, and also to manage relationships with the private property owners that surround the city’s pair of parcels. The house to the south is a “something-for-everyone” food court anchored by Coleman’s, and the north market house serves as the longtime home of Artworks Around Town, a non-profit art center that features the submissions of local artists.
“And I hope they find a good replacement for Oliver’s Pies because who didn’t get a pie from there a few times a year? I know my family did during the holidays,” said Erikka Storch, the executive director of Project BEST, who preceded Zende as the Chamber president. “Centre Market has become a neat place where locals can support our small businesses, but it’s also become a destination for people when they come to Wheeling from out of town.
“Centre Market was kind of sketchy about 20 years ago, believe it or not,” said Storch, who also is a state lawmaker in the House of Delegates. “It was always OK to go down and get the roast beef from Michael’s or the fish from Coleman’s for lunch, but the evening hours were, well, let’s say not what they are these days. There was some criminal activity taking place before the revitalization took place thanks to the city and the property owners in the area.”
A United Way annual fundraiser, Red, White, and Brew, is scheduled for Centre Market this Friday beginning at 5 p.m. Those wishing to purchase beer will need to purchase a wristband for $2.00, and the Wood Fired Pizza Company and Desperado Dogs food trucks will be on location for the event. trucks
Live and local music will be on hand with The Muddle playing from 6-8 p.m. and MSM (Miller, Smith, Mazure) from 9-11 p.m. It will be the first of several live music concerts in the historic district this summer.
“People have really enjoyed the live shows at Centre Market since we started them many years ago now,” Zende said. “Of course, during the pandemic, we really couldn’t do much until last summer and the concerts were a success as long as the weather cooperated. It’s good to see the City continue to do the live music there because it’s not an easy show to put on.
“But the music is yet another example of what Centre Market has become for so many people in Wheeling, and in the Valley,” he added. “For some, it’s where they eat most often, and for others it’s where their favorite clothing store is or where they like to buy their painting. Who knows? It’s really become so many different things to so many people, and that’s why I’m proud to have been involved the little that I was once.”
