Owning a small business is difficult. Lawrenceville has over 300 businesses, and one of Lawrenceville Corporation’s responsibilities is to manage the business district: to hear business owners’ concerns, to advocate for them, and to support them in their business endeavors. Small business owners in Lower Lawrenceville were greatly challenged this past Fall and Spring when a construction project that was supposed to last 2-3 months extended 9 months into a busy shopping season. Construction and updated infrastructure are necessary in moving a city like ours into the future, but this project showed the importance of communication and collaboration.
After many months of headaches and delays, Representative Lindsay Powell’s Office convened a group of stakeholders from Lawrenceville Corporation, Lawrenceville United, businesses owners, and residents as well as PennDOT, City and utility reps. This group was able to open the lines of communication, get an updated construction schedule, voice concerns of owners and neighbors, and move the necessary, but trying project along.
We want to thank Representative Powell’s office for convening this group and for starting what we can now model and use for other construction projects throughout Lawrenceville. We also want to take this opportunity to celebrate the construction being over and drive customers to these small businesses who struggled throughout this time. So Lawrenceville Corporation presents the Sidewalk Soiree: Goodbye to Noise, Cones, & Dust…Hello to Fall Fare, Sips, & Sales on September 14th.
Each business dealt with the daily challenges in their own unique way and now they will each decide how to celebrate in a way that fits their business. There will be sidewalk sales, food and drink specials, artist pop-ups, an Open Mic, and more! Come down to Lawrenceville on September 14th between 34th and 40th Street to shop, sip, and support these local businesses. Each participating business will be open during their own business hours, you can find an updated list on our Google Map and Facebook Event.
We hope to see you between 34th and 40th Streets for a much needed celebration!