Main Street pushes on despite pandemic

A year in, the Main Street Lorain group has looked for ways to promote Broadway businesses despite the health and economic effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Main Street Lorain’s board met Oct. 20 and this week published the review of the year, starting with the organization’s launch in October 2019.

“I’ve been a part of many committees and organizations, but none as dedicated and with as much passion to make a difference as the Main Street Lorain board,” said Main Street Lorain President Kurt Hernon. Hernon and his wife, Page, own Speak of the Devil cocktail lounge at 201 W. Fifth St.

“The group hit the ground running, and even through COVID, have found ways to make a difference and help make Lorain a better place,” he said.

Main Street Lorain’s organizing committee vowed to four core Main Street fundamentals of economic vitality, design, promotion and organization.

“As we reflect back on our first year, it was more of roller coaster ride than climbing the mountain,” Hernon said. “But I for one, would not want to have it any other way.

“The team is amazing and have shown their very best in the

midst of a pandemic. I cannot wait to see what year two has in store for Main Street Lorain, I can tell you — we’ll be ready.”

In December 2019, Main Street Lorain organized the Home for the Holidays and Small Business Saturday cookie walk events.

January 2020 brought the start of the application process to become a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

In March 2020, excitement was high to welcome the new Ariel Broadway Hotel by Cobblestone, 301 Broadway, where developers and city officials gathered March 2 for a ribboncutting for the event complex. That was just days before Ohio’s COVID-19 shutdown orders started.

The hotel reopened at the end of May and found success with rooftop dining events.

Main Street Lorain launched its website, Mainstreetlorainohio.org, also in March.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancelation of some events, but some public projects were possible and work continued behind the scenes.

The organization coordinated the Downtown Beautification Project with almost 60 pots and hundreds of flowers in May 2020.

The next month, Dan Crandall joined Main Street Lorain as a marketing consultant.

Crandall, an Elyria native, previously was marketing director of Crocker Park shopping center in Westlake, but that post was another economic casualty of COVID-19.

In July, the organization created “Comeback Kits” for local businesses to help welcome back guests with safety measures as a top priority.

New Main Street Lorain decals were handed out to all members to place on their front doors

In August, the Main Street board approved the mission and vision statements.

The mission: “To promote collaboration and celebration as a means of making downtown Lorain vibrant and accessible to residents and visitors of all ages.”

The vision: “Main Street Lorain aspires to a new vision for the City of Lorain: strong in collaboration, rich in history and diversity, economically thriving and welcoming to all.”

Last month, Main Street Lorain announced the sale of the inaugural holiday ornament.

More than 400 have been ordered and it will be a limited edition creation of 500 in total, Crandall said.

He credited the foresight of Promotions Committee Chairwoman Jennifer Black for arranging presale orders, with samples of the ornament at downtown businesses.

“For the first time, that was amazing,” Crandall said about the sales.

Purple ribbons have adorned Broadway signs this October as part of Domestic Violence Awareness month and to support Genesis House, the county’s safe harbor shelter.

Main Street Lorain also will have a 2020 winter beautification project, and the board this month, adopted a 2021 calendar of events.

That list is about 80 percent complete and will be published at the start of next year, Crandall said.

“I must admit, looking back, the committee has been very active in year one, and even more impressive how much they’ve accomplished during the pandemic,” he said.