We started this project with knowledge of basic statistics about Delaware, Ohio – that it is the fastest growing county in Ohio, and the second happiest county in the nation. We wanted to dig deeper and find out what is working well, especially close to campus and why?

 

We wanted to know the stories of faces that come together to make Delaware city what it is.

 

Our project focused on businesses in downtown Delaware and the "Strength of Sandusky." We talked to business owners, store managers, employees, Delaware residents and city officials and have concluded that our historic downtown is a community where if one benefits, everyone does.

 

Events like First Fridays bring foot traffic downtown and some business success, but not every retailor reaps a benefit. In fact, some believe it's a shoplifter's paradise.

 

It's a friendly and helpful community and over the years many businesses have come and gone. Delaware is an attractive spot for commerce, but, we learned, basic skills of business know-how and good management skills are still key for survival.

 

There is also a growing trend towards more drinking and dining businesses and a focus on making downtown an entertainment retail district where families can come for experiences.

 

Public parking can also be an issue in a small community. While some business owners complained of inadequate parking downtown, others saw it as a rather good problem to have.

 

It was challenging to piece the project together, but along the way we met some incredible people and learned more about our own community and what brings us all together – Sandusky Street.

 

 

About the authors

 

Areena Arora is an Economics and Journalism double major at Ohio

Wesleyan, from Lucknow, India. She is a passionate writer and hopes to

pursue a career in print journalism. She has enjoyed working on this

project and is excited to share this website. 

 

 

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Adelle Brodbeck will be graduating from Ohio Wesleyan in a couple weeks

with a Journalism and Film Studies degree. She is from Louisville,

Kentucky and hopes to pursue cultural criticism and other forms of

creative non fiction writing post-grad. On occassion, she enjoys a

brew (or two) from Barley Hopsters.

 

 

 

 

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