Wilkes-Barre, PA -
Domino's Pizza, a nail salon, a vocational school and more will come to the former Market Street Square Complex as the project continues to be developed.
George Albert, of Market Street Properties Development, announced the news Friday to members of the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association at their monthly meeting. Albert and his group purchased the complex from the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority last year for $1.2 million.
Albert said the project is an $8-10 million investment. The existing property that once housed retail businesses will be demolished, and the former train station will be renovated to reflect its history in the area. The brick train station was built in 1868 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Albert said his company will move from the Jewelcor building across the street to the train station sometime next year, and he hopes to bring a large law firm to the station as well. He said the Burger King planned for the corner of East Market Street and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard should open in 2017. He said the entire project is planned to be completed in 2018.
He said the 10,000 square feet of retail space will have a mixed use, but confirmed Domino's Pizza, currently located on Pennsylvania Avenue; a nail salon and “a beauty school” will be part of the complex. Janet Hall, executive director of the Luzerne County Visitors Bureau, also told those at the meeting she hopes the bureau will become the first tenant in the complex.
The decision to move the bureau from its current location on Public Square will be up to the Luzerne County County Council.
He also said there will be a bisecting road through the complex between East Market and East Northampton streets flanked with shrubbery, cherry blossom trees and other landscaping.
Albert, who said his company recently purchased the Innovation Center on South Main Street and is in the process of acquiring the First National Bank building on Public Square, said the project is part of a “broad vision” of improving the downtown and surrounding area.
He said this can be done through a few methods: buying up-and-coming technology companies and bringing them to Wilkes-Barre and “filling the vacant real estate” with national retail brands and other tenants to attract and keep young people in the area.
“The cost to do business in Wilkes-Barre is 30 percent of the cost to do business in New York City and other major cities and our attrition rate is wonderful” for those who can find work in the area.
- George Albert, Market Street Properties Development
He said his focus is creating jobs for the next generation.
“The business community needs to be aware,” he said. “Everyone needs to share in this vision.”
Albert also said the development group is eyeing other projects in the area, including “the Sterling property, the Murray Complex and the old Irem Temple building.”
“The list is long,” he said.
Published by Sarah Hite Hando at 570-704-3945 / http://timesleader.com/news/612407/tenants-more-plans-announced-for-market-street-square-complex
