LORAIN, Ohio — Shop owner Lollie Bansek is packing up and moving her business.
- The Lorain streetscape project debuted in the spring and was recently completed last month
- The goal is to revitalize the downtown corridor and bring back businesses
- Improvements include Broadway signs, new sidewalks, better lighting and new restaurants
She says now that the Lorain streetscape project is complete, she plans on moving into the newly-renovated Ariel hotel across the street.
“The fact that we will be having new people coming to Lorain that will be staying in the hotel, I’ll be sharing the lobby with a bakery, a chocolate shop, a flower shop, the new restaurant, and in the lower level will be a sports bar, so there will be lots of things down here to attract more people,” said Bansek, who is the owner of Lolipop’s Gift Shop in Lorain.
The Lorain Broadway streetscape project started in the spring and was recently completed.
The goal of the $4 million project is to revitalize the downtown corridor.
There are three Broadway signs in place, as well as new wider sidewalks, better lighting, and better traffic flow.
There are new restaurants, and businesses are returning.
Some say they have mixed feelings about the streetscape project.
“I love the streetscape, it’s gonna slow things down on the roads and people have to stop to look and see what’s down here in downtown Lorain, which is gonna be great for all the businesses in the area, it’s beautiful as well, you know, something to look at Lorain so it doesn’t look like a dead town anymore, ya know what I mean?” said Antwon President, a barber in Lorain.
“Too much money spent on this improvement on Broadway, ok? Money could of went elsewhere,” said a Lorain resident.
Bansek has lived in Lorain for 60 years, so she’s seen the good and the bad.
“Well, I was here back in the 60s when Lorain was a booming town… every store was filled with lots of people on the street, especially on the weekends, and I’m hoping that’s what we are working toward now,” said Bansek.