Middle Street's Promise
Cobblestone streets, historical buildings create neighborly charm
By MATT WICKENHEISER
Sun Staff
LOWELL -- Sometimes it seems business in the downtown ends up as a wash: New businesses open, old ones close.
Net result, zero.
That may be changing with the Middle Street corridor, a strip of downtown that city officials have long looked to as an engine for revitalization.
With its cobblestone streets and red-brick architecture, the length of downtown is certainly inviting; history and aesthetics merging to create a welcoming atmosphere.
While the Center City Marketplace (commonly known as the farmer's market) has been closed for more than a year, and Smithwick's Tavern has recently made its ultimate last call, they are more than balanced by new businesses along the stretch, and potential is high.
Fortunato's Restaurant is a newcomer to the city, in operation for only a few months, but already expanding to daytime hours and drawing boom crowds at night.
At the Central Street end of Middle Street, two authentic Irishmen are renovating the former Press Club (vacant for about two years) and hope to open The Old Court bar within the next few months.
Though Smithwick's is closed, building owner Suleyman Celimli has grand plans for a cafe and arts center, complete with gallery and performance space.
The farmer's market building is now owned by premier Lowell businessman Elkin McCallum, who has former City Manager Brian Martin is working on filling the open first floor with a quality restaurant.
The Brass Lantern, a mainstay of the street, remains strong, and other new businesses such as Kanvis Media Solutions and the Palfreman Film Group are helping to bolster the area.
One of the strongest underpinnings for the area -- The Ayer Lofts artist colony --is flourishing, with complete occupancy and a successful open house held just this past week.
"I think the area itself is coming along exactly as we expected," said Matt Coggins, director of development and planning for the city.
The city, said Coggins, is trying to market the downtown's social scene as an upscale tableau with classy restaurants and taverns.
"We're not looking for some kid to come in and get wrecked and throw up on the sidewalk," said Coggins.
Part of the success in getting new ventures to open in the downtown, said Coggins, is attributable to the city's Venture Fund, set up through federal Housing and Urban Development monies to attract quality firms downtown while creating jobs.
The loans are low-interest, with no payments due for a year, said Coggins. Fortunato's got a $200,000 city grant, and The Old Court a $140,000 grant, said Coggins. Inizio's Day Spa, a new attraction around the corner on Merrimack Street, received $75,000.
"We are the only community going that far out to attract businesses," said Coggins. "The whole purpose of the venture fund is to draw people from the outside."
That's certainly happened on several levels with Fortunato's. Neither of its co-owners, Phil Ferdinand nor Kellie Dunn, is from Lowell. And, said Ferdinand, many patrons who have filled the upscale steak eatery are from the suburbs, some as far away as North Reading and chi-chi North Andover.
"Business ... I don't want to jinx myself," said Ferdinand, knocking on wood. "It's been tremendous."
When Ferdinand and his partner first took a look at the neighborhood, he said, he got goose bumps. They both knew Middle Street was where they wanted to be, he said.
"It was just exciting to be in at the beginning," said Ferdinand. "We're creating a landmark and hopefully carving out a little niche of history."
Ferdinand said he views the other downtown upscale restaurants -- La Boniche and Cobblestones -- as complimentary to Fortunato's, and vice versa. A restaurant at the farmer's market will add to the mix, he said, and create a critical mass of spots that will draw business downtown.
Where, he asked, outside of Boston can such a variety of quality restaurants be found in a two-block area?
Ferdinand also said he thought that several small, high-end shops and even a movie theater downtown would complete the package. A free shuttle that travels from downtown to the Paul E. Tsongas Arena and LeLacheur Park -- especially on game nights -- would also help, he said.
Martin said he hoped to add to the mix a new restaurant at the farmer's market, likely to open in the early spring.
"I think this is the best environment in the downtown for the restaurant development," said Martin, vice president of development for McCallum. "Having a critical mass of restaurants will help each of them."
Finbarr Sheehan and Jerry Murphy, natives of Counties Clark and Kerry, respectively, met in the states and hope to open The Old Court early in the new year. The neighborhood is perfect for their purposes, said Sheehan.
"I think it's great, it's the perfect size," said Sheehan. "The more the merrier."
As for the 51 condos filled by artists ranging from the traditional to the newer photographers and World Wide Web designers, the future and potential are wide open, said Albert Ewing, marketing director for Peabody Property Inc., the management firm that maintains Ayer Lofts.
The artists colony, in conjunction with the trendy restaurants, spas and shops, will create an atmosphere felt in Boston's North End or Newburyport, said Ewing.
"I think that it's going to create a greater street life, a walking presence, a downtown presence," said Ewing. "It's going to put some people on the street."
Science and Technology reporter Matt Wickenheiser may be reached by email at mwickenheiser@lowellsun.com
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This story ran in The Lowell Sun on 12/2/2000.