West Reading Avenues Fall 2020 - 2

Letter from the Manager
West Reading Main Street
Kicking Into High Gear
Digital Shift

West Readings Main Street has kicked into high gear during
this pandemic. Both restaurants and retailers have adapted
and technology is now interwoven with commerce for our
West Reading merchants. The growing role of tech is one
of the most pronounced long-term impacts from the global
pandemic. While the length of the outbreaks and the potential
pace of recovery are still unknown, technology is here to stay.
The coronavirus pandemic has underscored the important
role technology plays in our lives as well as the role it serves
for our businesses who continue to adapt and operate under
these new conditions. One of the most profound behavioral
changes in retail is the shift to digital. The coronavirus pandemic
accelerated many West Reading business e-commerce adoption.
Almost every business on Penn Ave now has a web site. There
has also been a boost in contactless payments. Our stores have
also had to reimagine store pickup. Curbside pickup is a shift in
business and will become a mainstay option that benefits both
the merchant and customers now and in the future.

Improvements & Plans

With Mike Miller's help, Suzanne Fellows and the Wyomissing
Area Public Art Workshop with featured artist Meghan
McClennan (shown), we have added 2 murals in the 600 block
of Court Street. This brings our count to 45 murals borough
wide. Retail growth has also been surprisingly positive on the
Ave. Although we have seen 6 businesses close since the first
of the year (3 were slated to close before COVID hit), we now
have 15 new businesses who have or are planning to open. We
also hired Derck & Edson to help us develop a 5-year plan that
will help guide us as we continue to improve and grow West
Reading. We look forward to celebrating the opening of our
new businesses and continue improving West Reading as we
near the end of the year.

Communication is Key

Other than planning, rescheduling and downsizing our events,
our West Reading Main Street organization has been working
to communicate with our business owners on a daily basis. We
have sent over 60 emails to our merchants over the past few
months helping them with PPP loans, grants, business loans,
creative ideas and best practices during this difficult time. We
have promoted an instagram contest to benefit our restaurants
and are selling t-shirts through www.pretzelcitycares.com web site.

2

Avenues Fall 2020

By Mark Ratcliffe, Main Street Manager,
West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation
http://www.pretzelcitycares.com https://www.waldmanelectric.com/
West Reading Avenues Fall 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of West Reading Avenues Fall 2020
