Revitalize -
What I found on Wikopedia:
As the ensuing days pass, Lighting McQueen starts to befriend the town’s residents, from whom he learns that Radiator Springs (Waukesha) was once a thriving town until the completion of the nearby interstate highway, which bypassed the town, one way streets were implemented depriving it of its business traffic and visitors and ironically, depriving those passing visitors of the natural beauty found in the scenery along the old highway.(river)
Two days after the race, McQueen returns to Radiator Springs (Waukesha), announcing that he will establish his racing headquarters there, helping to revitalize the town, with the once-abandoned Route being reclassified as “Historic Route 66.” (Historic Downtown and Riverfront)
Hmmm.. I find similarities to the Pixar’s Car’s Movie and Kevin Costner’s Field Of Dreams right here in my own backyard.
Build it, and they will come. But what I’m seeing is They Will Come Home. Welcome home to Drew Vallozzi and Andrew Ruggeri and more. Welcome back and thank you for your vision and starting what we hope will be the Renaissance of Waukesha. I hope more hometown boys and girls come back and wake up Waukesha!
A neighbor stopped by yesterday to ask me what I thought of the new hotel and restaurant. He said they are taking up all the parking spaces for Cuddles and Dave’s Restaurant. He thought the new hotel would push out what’s left of the businesses downtown. He’s afraid rents will skyrocket and the business there won’t be able to afford it.. I talked with him a while and he admitted he’s been known to park almost 2 blocks away to eat at Dave’s – and sometimes walks there from home. He said it’s worth the walk, great food at even better prices. I said that Dave’s will thrive during construction, the guys don’t always pack their lunches, and when the hotel is open, guests will surely want to try out local establishments. They won’t all eat at the hotel where they stay.. when was the last time you ate at the hotel you stayed at? He asked me about the empty store fronts. I said some businesss people just don’t plan ahead, don’t realize they need to put in 80 hour weeks when they own their own businesses and some just learned their business sold product or services that could just as easily be sold online from home and did not need to pay the overhead.
We talked about about new businesses going in, Bodways Live Music Grille and Studio, one owner TWO new businesses, the new owner of the Dicken of a Place Antique shop, soon to add some artistic flair and a little café, the rumored return of Katydid’s and Jeff Oberholtzer plans for an ‘eatery’ along the river walk and many other new ideas for downtown. Look at the expansions some businesses have made, Remember when G’man music was at the old Music Center on South and Barstow? Check out the new digs on South St and Clinton with updated studio space and what seems to be more product. La Estation used to be the lil Jaliso’s on Whiterock that’s now been torn that down now and look how they’ve taken care of their Landmark. How long did Zillmer’s sit empty before someone thought to make it into an Antique Mall? How about the E and R Church, burned down to the ground, and did they take their church out of downtown? No! They could have rebuilt out of town with more room to grow and more parking but Thank Goodness they are staying!
And all of this with my 80plus year old neighbor who is now looking forward to maybe taking home a recording of the live music he hears at Bodways, and can’t wait for the Weekend in Waukesha, even if he doesn’t own a Harley!
The Paul Vrakas’s and Carol Opel’s of their time were right, I think Steve Crandell (Community Development) is on the right track. If we build it (the riverwalk) they will come. And they are coming. And coming back.
We almost have it all. Our own civic theater, a plethora of art gallery’s, music studios, a sweet library, parks and parkways, boutique shops and a few drug stores.and an awesome riverfront to enjoy, whether you walk it or just sit a watch.
What my neighbor said he could use though is a nice old fashioned grocery store. Like the Budzien’s or Kaske’s, or Schmuki’s Markets or Dutchland Dairy of days gone by. A meat market, bakery, dairy and canned and dry goods all in one stop. Something downtown where you can stop and pick up something for lunch or dinner on your way home. Not that Pano’s Fruit Market isn’t handy, there’s just sometimes when you need just a little bit more than they carry. Let’s see who will pick up on this one, they are bound to make some money on it. With gas prices the way they are, we’re tired of having to walk or drive more than a couple of miles from downtown to pick up something for dinner….
and to make my summer perfect- maybe a few more places where our teens could go and have fun, without getting into trouble .. I’m sure I’ll bring that up sometime…
Today was an awesome day to spend sometime outside. Hope you were able to enjoy some of the warmth and sunshine. 
