In what could be an early warning sign, four downtown Toledo restaurants have left in recent weeks. In a downtown that is on a positive path of revitalization that has included a growth in eateries and bars, this cluster of departures in the central business district points to a concern that city and business leaders should address now.
BleakHouse Coffee on Adams Street; PJ’s Deli and Biggby Coffee Shop on North Superior Street, and Potbelly Sandwich Shop on Madison Avenue have closed. All are in the central business district, on the north side of Huntington Center.
Each had various reasons for leaving, so determining whether it’s just happenstance or the sign of a problem is not easy. All were good businesses, but they didn’t have enough customer traffic, says Toledo City Councilman Sandy Spang, who owns Plate One restaurant on Madison.
The Huntington Center, while bringing thousands of people downtown for events, is a barrier for patrons who may go to bars and restaurants near its main entrance, on the south side of the building, and not visit places on the north side, where most of the central business district is.
And Fifth Third Field, in the nearby warehouse district, also draws thousands for baseball games, but it too is on the south side of Huntington Center and benefits bars and restaurants near it.
Cindy Kerr, vice president of operations for ConnecToledo, a nonprofit downtown development corporation, doesn’t see the exits as a red flag. She concedes that Huntington Center can cut off customer traffic to its north side. She says her group and the city are working on some solutions, including some north side events that will be “fun.” She said nothing is finalized but an announcement will come this summer.
Levis Square in the central business district has food trucks and entertainment every Thursday in the summer, which draws hundreds of downtown workers. But that type of an event doesn’t help the nearby restaurants. One idea is having frequent entertainment events at Levis Square or elsewhere in the central business district, but the events shouldn’t serve food or should have a limited menu to entice patrons to use nearby restaurants or bars.
Longer-term solutions also are needed to support a vibrant restaurant and retail industry in the central business district. Ms. Spang has suggestions that seem sound: Get more residential units and fill more of the vacant office space in the district. Some plans are in the works to do just that, but they need to be a priority for the city.
First Published July 1, 2019, 4:00 a.m.
