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Baldwin
Wallace
University
and
the
DiGeronimo
Companies
are
beginning
to
open
the
doors
on
an
innovative
retail,
dining
and
student
housing
development
on
Berea's
Front
Street
one
year
after
breaking
ground.
A
grand
opening
community
celebration
is
in
the
works
for
mid-September.
The Front Street Residence Hall, comprising the top three floors of the 64,000 square foot mixed-use development, is owned by the University and already housing early student arrivals. Most residents are expected to move in on Saturday and Sunday, August 18-19.
Meanwhile,
the
finishing
touches
are
going
on
the
16,000
square
feet
of
ground-floor
commercial
space,
which
is
owned
and
leased
by
DiGeronimo
Companies
and
known
as
University
Market.
The block of shops and restaurants includes BW's new campus store, The Buzz on Front, connected to a full-service Starbucks that is franchised by the University. The Buzz on Front will cater to student needs, but George Schiller, director of campus store operations, emphasizes that the merchandise will have broad appeal for the Berea community.
"Our textbook and course materials will still be based in the lower level of the Strosacker Hall student union," Schiller explains. "The retail location on Front St. will feature BW spirit wear, electronics and games, general interest books and magazines, greeting cards, gifts and much more. Our students push us to keep with the latest trends."
The
Buzz
on
Front
and
Starbucks,
will
join
fellow
tenants
Boss
ChickNBeer,
Dave's
Cosmic
Subs,
Lucy
Marie's
Boutique,
Papa
John's
Pizza
and
U.S.
Bank
in
a
Grand
Opening
celebration
from
September
15-22
with
events,
giveaways
and
specials
throughout
the
week.
Grand Opening week kicks off with a splash during BW's Homecoming & Community Day on September 15. The businesses have staggered soft opening dates in late August and September. DiGeronimo is currently in talks with a tenant to occupy the final space in the development.
Above
the
ground-floor
commercial
space,
the
Front
Street
Residence
Hall
is
ready
to
house
130-plus
students
in
81
studio
singles
and
double
suites
as
well
as
six
accessible
units.
BW Resident Assistant Matthew Sycle '20 says he has enjoyed throwing open the doors to unveil the newly furnished rooms for early arriving students "like an episode of MTV Cribs."
Sycle's fourth-floor room, on the back side of the building, features a view of BW's picturesque South Quad.
The development, located adjacent to the BW Conservatory of Music's Kulas Musical Arts Building, evokes a "Main Street Revisited" look that complements the historic charm of Berea.
The project aligns with Berea's Master Plan and longstanding economic development goal to encourage more students and families to patronize businesses in the city's downtown core.
