103111 Ground broken for new Merchants Block complex
By Sharon Haught
October 26, 2011
291
Summary: With a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Merchants Block building, the hole left in the heart of downtown Wooster by the demolition of the Freedlanders Department Store complex will soon be filled.
For the community leaders gathered at the site of the Freedlanders Department Store in downtown Wooster on Oct. 20, the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Merchants Block complex provided the perfect opportunity to share treasured memories of the past and a glimpse of the future that is to come.
This is the place I went to see Santa Clause. This is where I got my tux for the prom, my cutaway for my wedding, said emcee David Noble recalling how Herman Freedlanders friendliness permeated the store.
It is my hope that it pervades this very soil so that well have the same kind of friendliness in all of the establishments and condominiums that are part of Merchants Block, said Noble.
We already have the most vibrant downtown of any small town in the State of Ohio but it has had a hole in it and this is the hole. Merchants Block is going to fill that hole and make Wooster an even better and more exciting place to be, said Noble.
Noble noted that in addition to providing significant retail and commercial space in downtown Wooster, the complex will make available 12 condominiums for downtown living, which has become an important part of the vibrancy of downtown Wooster.
Mayor Bob Breneman also joined in what he characterized as the celebration of the rebirth and the continual growth of our downtown.
Clad in a suit he purchased at Freelanders just four years ago, Breneman recalled the 2008 meeting on the second floor of the store when Stan Gault shared the news that the store would be closing.
Before Breneman could fully take in the news Gault and developer Mike Rose unveiled the plans for the new mixed use development complex on the Freedlanders site that would evolve into the Merchants Block building.
Here we are four years later, said Breneman noting that the new building is going to be an amazing anchor to our downtown.
Were excited for the future, said Breneman adding two years from now I hope to be back in this same spot eating in a restaurant or buying merchandise from a store.
Gault also looked back on his decade long association with one of downtown Woosters most iconic buildings.
Gault recalled meeting with Rose shortly after purchasing Freedlanders in 2000 to begin discussing the possibility of developing the property.
From those early discussions the concept for a 30,000 square foot, three story building with 10,000 square feet of commercial space on street level and upper story residential space comprise of 12 customizable 1700 square foot lofts began to take shape.
According to Gault to date Merchants Block LLC has already sold two of the dozen condominiums and has secured an agreement for half of the space on the first floor which will be occupied by a very highly regarded restaurant from Media, Fairlawn and Akron – House of Hunan.
Gault noted that thanks to support from a host of government leaders and members of the business community were here today to celebrate Merchants Block, a concept that was designed but now its ready to go.
Although it took over 10 years to reach this day I think it was certainly worth it, Gault added.
This is a tribute to what can happen when community leaders come together, said United States Congressman Jim Renacci adding without their vision and their stewardship it is likely that Merchants Block would not be taking its first steps towards construction today.
Renacci noted that he was pleased to be a part of the groundbreaking ceremony for what I am confident will be a significant boost to the downtown Wooster economy.
Merchants Block may sit on the space once occupied by Freedlanders Department Store but I really believe it will be the standard for Woosters downtown in the 21st century, said Renacci.
