Returning to the City: Member Spotlights

The good news is for many, the days of “all things virtual” are few and far between as face-to-face meetings replace Zoom meetings and in-person events replace virtual ones.  

According to a recent report by the Center City District, Philadelphia lost 126,500 jobs in the initial two months of the pandemic, but then steadily rebounded during 2020 and 2021, restoring 88,100 jobs or 70% by February 2022.

We have a ways to go to get back to pre-pandemic levels.  But it looks like we are on our way. The streets are getting crowded and trains are filling up as work-from-home office staff head back to the city, at least for some of the time.  As business owners and leaders, we all need to do our part to bring businesses and employees back – when it’s right for that individual business.

Here’s what three members look forward to the most as they and their businesses return to the city.

Crystal Brewe
Chief Marketing & Audience Experience Officer
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc.
We’ve been gathering with audiences for nine amazing months, already welcoming back nearly 700,000 to our venues to celebrate togetherness through the arts - from the transformative sounds of The Philadelphia Orchestra, to the best of Broadway, and a lineup of legendary comedians and fun family programming.

But the Kimmel Cultural Campus and The Philadelphia Orchestra staff is very much ready to see our beloved Avenue of the Arts alive, once again, with the business community. We’ve thought in advance about how to welcome this community back warmly, launching free Plaza events during lunchtime and happy hour. We invite workers to join us as they grab lunch or celebrate the end of a work day to listen to burgeoning local artists. Coming together is now more important than ever, and there’s no better way to celebrate a return to togetherness than through powerful performing arts experiences.

Michael Newmuis
Chief of Staff
Visit Philadelphia
I’m excited to see the reanimation of downtown—particularly local shops, restaurants, and other businesses—with pedestrian foot traffic.

Last year, I stopped at my favorite cafe on my morning walks to work and was often the only customer in the shop. However, as more workers return to the office, I’m noticing more consumers in the cafe. Today, I couldn’t be happier to see lines for coffee on my morning commutes.

Driving economic impact and supporting people’s livelihoods, all while making our great region more robust and vibrant—that’s what excites me about the return to offices.

Maureen Walter
Owner
Lore's Chocolates
For over 54 years, Lore's has been an iconic Philadelphia walk-in retail chocolatier. During Covid, we remodeled our store and reinvented our packaging. We most look forward to the reaction of our long-time customers who haven't had the opportunity to experience our changes. Although our online business has grown dramatically, it's the joy expressed when customers are hit with the aroma that greets them when they shop in person. The smile of a kid in a chocolate shop says it all!


Learn More and Get Involved
From celebrating togetherness to driving economic growth in Philadelphia, there is always much to look forward to in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. Thanks to these leaders for sharing their stories, and for their support of Center City Business Association. You can learn from them and connect with more business leaders at our upcoming networking events.

To inquire about being featured in these types of member roundup articles, please contact ccba@centercitybusiness.org.