>Signs of revival in downtown Ridgewood
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2011
BY KELLY EBBELS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Two old friends were strolling down East Ridgewood Avenue last month, shopping bags in hand. They had just purchased sneakers, and before heading to grab lunch, they planned to go around the corner to get another pair of shoes repaired.
The women hailed from Englewood, where their own athletic shoe store had recently closed down. They enjoyed shopping in Ridgewood immensely, they said, from the flower plantings to the friendliness of people to the diversity of stores. “I see all these interesting places here,” said Betty Frank. “It all looks so well pulled together.”
Yes, they noticed some empty storefronts. “But Englewood has that too,” said Louise Schwartz.
Ridgewood’s Central Business District (CBD) may not be at the top of its game, but in examining local rents, sales and vacancy rates, it seems things could be worse. Last winter, the downtown was suffering, with more than 40 empty storefronts; this year, the number has inched toward 30 – with many of those properties now spoken for as soon-to-open new establishments.
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