Downtown Toledo: New enterprises bloom
With the Mud Hens opening their baseball season today, it’s not just the pear trees outside Fifth Third Field that are blooming.
Businesses old and new in Toledo’s Warehouse District are getting ready for a flood of game-attending customers and looking optimistically at the city’s downtown future.
“We’re excited and nervous all at the same time, but we’re ready to go,” said Pete Govito, co-owner of JED’S at the Yard, a sports bar and restaurant that opened Friday just across the street from Fifth Third Field. “It’s going to be crazy.”
Mr. Govito said he and his brother, Mike, who also own restaurants in Bowling Green, Mau-mee, and Perrysburg, decided the time was right to open a business in downtown Toledo because they believe the area is starting to thrive.
“We know there’s more people moving downtown,” Mr. Govito said.
“We thought, ‘If we wait much longer, it’s going to be a lot more expensive.’ ”
He said business so far has been steady, and he expects a huge surge in customers today, despite the potential for rain. “I think Toledoans are loyal,” Mr. Govito said. “The opening day, people will come whether it rains or shines.”
Down the street, on the corner of South St. Clair and Lafayette streets, Julie Hartten was preparing to open her new gift store, “Swank Gifts,” today, even though her official opening day is Saturday.
