The Dismal State of 2nd Street Harrisburg
Second Street has seen some improvement, but it’s got a long way to go.
I suppose I want to stay optimistic of 2nd Street in downtown Harrisburg provided my wife might banish us back due to her distaste of the big city. Don’t get me wrong, I like Harrisburg, but these days 2nd Street makes me feel like George Bailey walking through Potterville in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
I’m not a monk by any means, but Second Street lacks variety. Sorry, but more bars does not equal more retail, and I don’t care if there’s a Coyote Ugly spinoff by the corner; it doesn’t make the ‘burg into the East Village, (which isn’t teeming with grunts eager to show off their new Lexuses).
If you haven’t caught on yet, I’m complaining about the overall vibe that has been carefully formulated to create what is now downtown Harrisburg.
I was sitting with a friend at McGrath’s the other night over some Moscow mules (one bar I will step into and have always liked–maybe it’s the Chimay 
) and we got on the topic of what the bar scene in Harrisburg is missing. Harrisburg has no bar with dollar bills decorating the ceilings (my friend lived in Virginia Beach…okay, unfair comparison). Harrisburg has no bars with vintage arcade machines, no bars based on Kubrick films, and no bars with free drinks. In short, Harrisburg needs more ideas. It maybe unpopular to say now, but I thought the late Design Museum @ Fathom was a great concept that encouraged some fresh thinking of downtown.
After writing the Soup Man post, I have to wonder why restauranteurs don’t even bring new franchises into downtown. After all, there are only so many Ruby Tuesdays or AppleBee’s that you fit into one place. I was overjoyed when someone brought the Waffle House to Central PA (I’m still waiting for it to migrate up here), even though it didn’t fill the much-needed downtown diner. Why don’t they consider bringing in Pret, an incredible and healthy deli, or Beard Papa’s, which seems to be invading Manhattan.
Of course, I can complain all I want when I know the issue comes down to money, but Harrisburg should drop its goal of becoming a speck on the map of tourists and instead concern itself with plugging the brain drain through innovative nightlife, more culture, and unique retail development. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd, and the city should remain concerned with keeping its existing crowd rather than trying to attract the outsiders that know better.
November 23rd, 2005 at 12:11 pm
Who exactly are “they?”
In my travels there seems to be a tremendous polarity of attitudes about Harrisburg: the view that it’s purgatory’s cesspool, on the other hand that it’s a “mini-manhattan” fantasy metro land.
The former will certainly have an easy time scoffing at Harrisburg, drawing comparisons to whatever “made” city they live in/near, hiding in the seclusion of suburbia, or uprooting to find greener pastures elsewhere (not that there’s anything wrong with that ;o)
The latter finds it easy to say “yeah, but we’ve come so far since 1980″ (that’s great but so has every other city). I wonder if people of this view see Harrisburg as “set” or are simply defending their own personal interests. Hmm.
I think the reality is in the middle: Harrisburg DOES have unique qualities to itself, yet there is much work to be done. Amongst all your complaints, you acknowledge this and offer some solutions. I congratulate you for that; most complainers don’t get that far ;o)
I agree, it is disappointing how emphasis the city administration is placing on tourism. Such endeavors should be driven by private investment; whereas the city government should focus on creating an environment friendly to investors & entrepreneurs… and competetively attractive for its residents. Museums, attractions, etc is the icing on the cake. If a foundation is there, they will happen on their own.
And of course you will always have the narrow-minded “bar barons” pushing their dumbed-down ventures on the city, driven solely by profit and prestige, with no concern about the big-picture effect on city culture. I won’t congratulate such people, nor will I rush to celebrate the latest theme/gimmick in town. I digress.
At the same time, it is important to also acknowledge the positive changes that are occuring in the city, that are bringing balance and acting on a vision: Cafe Fresco, Caffiene Connection, the potential of Jackie Blue bistro, and the new coffeehouse on 2nd — and there are certainly more. Though none of these things are the answer, they are encouraging signs. We must maintain the momentum and support businesses that break the mold.
And if anyone’s tired of just talking about it… contact me; I have several things we can -DO- to expedite Harrisburg’s growth… instead of waiting for “them” to satisfy your whims!
)
-Dave
November 23rd, 2005 at 3:58 pm
makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
November 23rd, 2005 at 6:38 pm
I still seem to hold a view of the city as one filled with sports bars. I know there are establishments as Dave has pointed out which I have not visited. My biggest complaint is parking. Rarely can I find parking downtown without finding a garage which I don’t like to do. Even to stop by Neato-Burrito for a bite to eat proves hopeless because of the lack of parking (I’m not paying to park in a garage just to pick up a $6 meal).
I would rather see a nice museum on the Susquehanna River and how it plays into the history of the city than to have a National Civil War Museum.
Other things I would like to see are a WholeFoods and a Baja Fresh downtown. Actually, let me re-think that. Maybe downtown is simply too congested, hence the parking issue. I think maybe these establishments need to start branching out to make things easier to access.
I am tired of talking about it, so maybe I’ll contact Dave and see what we can do about the situation. As of Monday I will be living IN the city of Harrisburg so I’d like to be proactive about it.
November 25th, 2005 at 7:57 pm
Speaking of sports bars, Jonathan… have you been here yet?
http://www.harrisburgpa.gov/pressReleases/prArchives/2005/11/cameron%20cafe.htm
November 25th, 2005 at 8:52 pm
I may just have to go check that out. Sounds pretty cool.
November 26th, 2005 at 3:16 am
First off, “They” are the “movers and shakers” of Harrisburg–the investors, the business owners, the politicians, and the ultimate deciders of the city (sorry, I’m to uninformed to point fingers).
I don’t believe that a Harrisburg history museum would be able to financially sustain itself with only the limited audience of the area. A museum needs to build off of a private passion, not a city’s interest to attract outside tourists.
Jonathan does bring up the good point that there aren’t enough parking spaces or supermarkets in the city. There’s a whole generation of 20-somethings that want to live the city life in Harrisburg, and I’m surprised that developers haven’t encouraged more retail.