Efforts To Make Main Street Thrive Has Business Owners Thrilled
By: Casie Mason
Updated: March 9, 2013
"It picked up slowly. It took a while. Now it's great, but it took twenty years." That's business owner's take on downtown Evansville transforming into what it is today. Downtown Evansville becoming a popular spot did not happen over night. Just this week a 'March on Main' street event is in full swing to get people to the area. The event will go on until Monday with a variety of things like a music night to see local bands perform, and even a free family day. The 'March on Main' is just another example of the attempts being made to make Main Street a thriving area. One business owner who has been in that location for nearly twenty years says he is glad to see the area become treasured again.
Angelo Jawabreh opened the restaurant 'Angelo's' in downtown Evansville almost twenty years ago, and he says things were much different then. "At that time downtown was dead. It was like a ghost town," says Jawabreh. He says he could have moved his location, but taking the easy way out is not something he has ever done, and was not about to start then. "But I learned how to get people back instead of being greedy and go somewhere else to get quick money, but I had a lot of patience. I stuck it out, and it's the best i've ever had," he says. This business man is glad he stuck around. He says the effort made into making downtown Evansville a treasure has not gone unnoticed. "You can tell they've done a lot. Basically they've changed lights, and the streets, food, entertainment, shows, music, the Victory, and the Ford Center. Downtown becomes a destination place." He says this week's event is that extra lift Main Street needed. "If you see a sign that says 'Angelo's,' or a bar or something, it sticks in their mind and then maybe they will remember next time they want to go eat or to a bar. They will think of downtown." Jawabreh says even if Main Street never becomes the busiest street in the area, he is happy with the way things turned out for him, and his restaurant. "This has been a great journey for me. I am glad I have stuck it out, and I would do it again and again actually."
The 'March on Main' event will be going on until Monday for those who want to go out and support their downtown businesses. Angelo's will be right off the road on Main Street.
Angelo Jawabreh opened the restaurant 'Angelo's' in downtown Evansville almost twenty years ago, and he says things were much different then. "At that time downtown was dead. It was like a ghost town," says Jawabreh. He says he could have moved his location, but taking the easy way out is not something he has ever done, and was not about to start then. "But I learned how to get people back instead of being greedy and go somewhere else to get quick money, but I had a lot of patience. I stuck it out, and it's the best i've ever had," he says. This business man is glad he stuck around. He says the effort made into making downtown Evansville a treasure has not gone unnoticed. "You can tell they've done a lot. Basically they've changed lights, and the streets, food, entertainment, shows, music, the Victory, and the Ford Center. Downtown becomes a destination place." He says this week's event is that extra lift Main Street needed. "If you see a sign that says 'Angelo's,' or a bar or something, it sticks in their mind and then maybe they will remember next time they want to go eat or to a bar. They will think of downtown." Jawabreh says even if Main Street never becomes the busiest street in the area, he is happy with the way things turned out for him, and his restaurant. "This has been a great journey for me. I am glad I have stuck it out, and I would do it again and again actually."
The 'March on Main' event will be going on until Monday for those who want to go out and support their downtown businesses. Angelo's will be right off the road on Main Street.
