New businesses are reviving Edwardsville
BY BRIAN BRUEGGEMANN
News-Democrat
The third-oldest downtown in Illinois is getting hip.
Look around Edwardsville: novel cafes with outdoor dining, a trendy coffee shop, a cigar shop, a wine bar, a new pastry shop, a chocolate shop, quirky stores, art galleries - and people.
While old downtowns across the country are dying, downtown Edwardsville, the third-oldest city in the state, appears to be enjoying a renaissance.
First stop: 222 Artisan Bakery, where husband-and-wife owners Matt Herren and Debbie Sultan are serving up sandwiches on fresh baguettes with toppings such as prosciutto ham and arugula. They make specialty baked items, such as focaccia, and sell specialty cheeses, including 12-month aged Spanish manchego at $19.20 a pound.
"We're really into that kind of old-world neighborhood. We wanted to do what we could to re-create that here," Sultan said. "I think there's some really good things happening down here, and I'm so excited to be a part of it."
For more on this story, please see Sunday's News-Democrat.
BY BRIAN BRUEGGEMANN
News-Democrat
The third-oldest downtown in Illinois is getting hip.
Look around Edwardsville: novel cafes with outdoor dining, a trendy coffee shop, a cigar shop, a wine bar, a new pastry shop, a chocolate shop, quirky stores, art galleries - and people.
While old downtowns across the country are dying, downtown Edwardsville, the third-oldest city in the state, appears to be enjoying a renaissance.
First stop: 222 Artisan Bakery, where husband-and-wife owners Matt Herren and Debbie Sultan are serving up sandwiches on fresh baguettes with toppings such as prosciutto ham and arugula. They make specialty baked items, such as focaccia, and sell specialty cheeses, including 12-month aged Spanish manchego at $19.20 a pound.
"We're really into that kind of old-world neighborhood. We wanted to do what we could to re-create that here," Sultan said. "I think there's some really good things happening down here, and I'm so excited to be a part of it."
For more on this story, please see Sunday's News-Democrat.