The Revitalization of Downtown: 1980s to Today

by Shannon Dade

Downtown has been the heart of the Wooster community since the town was first settled. In the 1980s however, the area looked nothing like the bustling town center that many Wooster residents had always known. The economy was in decline, with businesses and customers leaving en masse. Wooster’s community leaders were not content to let downtown die, and through their efforts the economy gradually began to recover. In downtown Wooster today, business and culture are thriving.