Brewed Fresh Daily

I have to had it to Tomoeh. I've lived in and around Painesville all my life. This is one of the only pieces I've seen that captures the hope that's in the neighborhood:

"Lured by cheap [Don't say cheap. There's nothing cheap about it. Say "a good value for the expense". Cheap is degrading. Have some confidence. G] rent and the quaint [It ain't that quaint either. Its loud, edgy and ethnically diverse. I like it.] setting of Painesville, two longtime friends, Gillian Barnes and Lisa Nemeth, last spring opened a modern loft brimming with trendy jewelry, paintings and home accessories made by local and international artists. Finestra@Studio 58N, an art and gift store that will be a year old on Sunday, might fit better in Manhattan's Soho district. But tucked behind a small travel agency off Main Street, it is thriving among a string of new businesses that have recently made this 8-square-mile, 70-year-old community their home. Painesville has the potential, as far as the look of the place, to be something like Tremont," said Barnes, 38, of Painsville Township, referring to the cluster of art galleries, restaurants and gift shops on Cleveland's Near West Side. Despite the slow economy, Arabica, At Wick's End, Karpenisi's restaurant, Special Events Floral and Design, Diamond Jim's Bistro and Sweet Memories at Thayer's have all set up shop in Painesville in the last 18 months. The city then identified businesses that had been successful long-term - Bitzer's Furniture on South St. Clair Street and Grande Designs Floral on Main Street, for example - and targeted specialty stores. With Great Lakes Mall nearby, the city had to offer something different. It came up with a two-prong approach to downtown stabilization: financial incentives for businesses and a lot of marketing. Once the stores opened, the city held marketing classes for the new business owners and hosted events such as Art in the Park, featuring dozens of local artists, to bring people downtown. The city also pays for half the advertising in local publications.

My wife and I have lived here for almost 10 years now. It takes that long to turn an area around. Its a fragile ecosystem that must continually be nurtured. What are you doing in your community?