Tuesday, June 4, 2002
Central Falls Restaurateur Hopes To Inspire Other Business Owners
The Times Newspaper Opinion
In a city that is known for it’s compact size, big changes are emerging, due in part to merchants who have taken pride in their neighborhood and their businesses.
Dexter Street in Central Falls is experiencing a mini-resurgence, starting with a well-established business that is getting a facelift and leading the charge for other nearby stores and eateries.
Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers, a landmark in this city since 1932, is undergoing interior renovations intended to create an Art Deco look with a retro flair. Designers have fashioned a new brushed-aluminum neon sign with a new emblem to entice customers to come in, too.
Stanley’s owner, Gregory Raheb, recently bought a vacant lot next door, which he paved for much needed off-street parking. There’s a new menu, with a story detailing the history of the legendary hamburger joint and how Stanley F. Kryla, a Polish immigrant from Cumberland, first opened for business during the Great Depression.
Merrick Cook, director of the city Planning Department, hopes Raheb’s visions are contagious. Raheb has taken advantage of a city Storefront Improvement Program, whereby Dexter Street business owners can apply for a grant that will match up to $10,000 of the cost of renovating their storefronts.
Dexter Street is a mecca for mom-and-pop businesses, featuring everything from barber shops to retail stores to restaurants.
Raheb believes a clean, inviting shop is the first step toward attracting customers.He owns most of the 500 block on Dexter Street and has been encouraging his tenants to keep the street in front of their shops neat in order to attract customers.
Cook said Raheb is definitely a leader in the Central Falls business community, setting an example many can follow.
But he also noted that the new post office building on Dexter Street has made store owners stand up and take notice of it’s modern look and design and propelled them to improve the appearance of their stores.
Raheb said he’d like to organize some type of Dexter Street business association, through which merchants can mount a united effort to keep the streets – and their buildings – clean.“It can’t hurt the business community; it will only help,” Raheb said.Help revitalize the whole city, hopefully.
If Raheb’s enthusiasm catches on with other businesses in Central Falls, then soon this square-mile city will not only draw shoppers and the stores that cater to them, it could also turn a struggling downtown area into a vibrant shopping district.
“I’m trying to do my part in the community, to take pride in the community,” Raheb told The Times. “And I hope to set an example.”
