Does West Chester have the greatest downtown in the United States?

WEST CHESTER, PA — As natives have been saying forever, West Chester’s downtown area is pretty unbeatable. It combines the history and quaintness of a small country town with the restaurants and nightlife of a major city. It’s walkable, diverse, and it’s only getting bigger. Now, it looks like the rest of the country is starting to take notice.

The borough has recently been nominated as one of ten semifinalists in the 2017 Great American Main Street Award.

West Chester was nominated alongside Berlin, Maryland, Cedar Rapids, Iowa., Chillicothe, Missouri, Columbus, Georgia, Covington, Kentucky, Goldsboro, North Carolina, Los Alamos, New Mexico, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Wausau, Wisconsin.

“The Great American Main Street Award is the highest recognition given out by the National Main Street Center. Each year, we celebrate exceptional Main Street America organizations for their work in creating more economically, socially, and culturally vibrant commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, the Center’s President and CEO, in a statement. “This year’s winners are truly at the forefront of commercial district revitalization. They are a testament to the power of the Main Street Approach, and the great potential of downtown districts in cities and towns across the country.”

In their nomination of West Chester, the Center noted the borough’s creation of 241 new businesses over the last 16 years. They also noted West Chester’s winning of the Best New Shopping District award from Philadelphia Magazine and the Distinctive Destination award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Winners will be named this May at the Main Street Now Conference in Pittsburgh.

Claire Richards Realty Group

CLAIRE RICHARDS ASSOC. BROKER & REALTOR

KARL ZIMMER REALTOR

610.256.2780