In the Round ventures downtown
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ife couldn’t get much busier for Josh Harris, president of In The Round Design Group. Harris’ company, now in its 14th year, has doubled in size since January 2010, bringing his full-time staff of web development and strategic marketing staffers up to 15, with plans to add more yet this year and intentions to continue growing.
2011 Downtown Event Schedule Downtown Canton’s streetscape comes alive with fun festivals!
First Friday of every month
Thursday, December 1 Mark your calendar and plan to atte n d !
During the economic challenges of recent years, In the Round spent time in developing new divisions of the company: Liquid Pixel Group, a specialty user interface and design company for integrated control systems; and Radius Web Tools, a website content management suite for small businesses, arts groups, non-profits and churches. Both new initiatives are growing faster than expected, doubling in size nearly every nine months. The incredible success of Radius led to a relationship with Our Sunday Visitor, a non profit organization in Indiana that provides services, tools, and publishing for faith-based organizations.. In 2011, Our Sunday Visitor, made an investment stake in In the Round, and is now actively selling Radius Web Tools to a client base of 25,000 churches nationally. Now, Harris has the opportunity to move his thriving business and team of pixel pushers, code ninjas, and air traffic controllers to downtown Canton. They have purchased the former Moonlight Ballroom building at 430 Market Ave. N and are renovating it from the ground up. The renovations will include the top floor that In the Round will occupy, the first floor which will be leased out for retail or office space, and a full basement. “We have the technology to work remotely, but there is something unique and special that happens when you have a lot of people in close proximity, in an inspiring environment. It’s a catalyst to creativity and collaboration. At the end of the day, that’s important to what we do. It’s worth an investment to create an environment that is conducive to letting those creative sparks fly,” said Harris of the new downtown digs. (continued on page 6)
PARTNERSHIP REPORT SPECIAL FEATURES • In the Round Design Group • Light Up Downtown • New Re sta u rant Spotlight • First Friday Tidbits • New Downtown Canton We b s i te • NBA D-League Charges Ahead • Home Project • SID Annual Meeting • Fa rmers’ Market • Community Garden • Space Available WHATWHEREWHEN
Christopher Pop-In-Kins pops-in again to spread the joy of the holidays at Light Up Downtown Santa’s very first Children’s Elf is popping back in to downtown Canton for a magical, musical, holiday jamboree and ELFstravaganza on Dec. 1! The whole family will be enchanted as you take a magical journey with Christopher Pop-In-Kins, Santa’s Official Children’s Elf, as he pops in again this year during Light Up Downtown. This year, Christopher and company will help to assure a young girl that there are still people who believe in the true spirit of the season. All of your favorite holiday characters will visit from wonderful winter wonderlands and through smiles, laughs and song, encourage everyone to enjoy the heart of the holiday – and it is all brought to life on the main stage at Central Plaza. (continued on page 6)
Downtown Developments is published bi-monthly by Canton Development Partnership, a department of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with Downtown Canton Special Improvement District
by Michael P. Gill, director, Canton Development Partnership
Another dynamic year! We’re closing out another dynamic year for downtown Canton, and we believe that the momentum of this year’s activities and projects will carry us into another wonderful year for our city.
222 Market Ave. N. Canton, OH 44702 (330) 456-0468 fax (330) 452-7786 cdp@cantonchamber.org www.DowntownCanton.com
Dennis P. Saunier President & CEO Michael P. Gill Director Corleon "CJ" Taylor Assent Event Manager Annette Rosenberger Administrative Assistant Denise Burton Membership Director Jessica Bennett Marketing Director & Editor Sarah Bhatia Graphic Designer
The Canton Development Part n e rship is a coalition of area development organizations and city g ove rn m en t that share an interest in downtown C a n ton’s continual imp rovement, revitalization, image, and quality of life for its citizens. Its mission is to support and coordinate the activities and programs of its partner organizations in order to encourage and sustain community and economic development in downtown Canton. The partnering organizations include: Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Canton Special Improvement District, Downtown Canton Land Bank, Canton Tomorrow, Inc., and City of Canton. Information regarding downtown events and news can be submitted for reprint at the discretion of the Partnership director and publication editor. The Canton Development Partnership reserves the right to edit all copy. Deadlines are the 15th of the month, two months prior to publication (i.e., May 15 for the July/August issue). Statements of fact and opinion within Downtown Developments are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply the opinion of the members of Canton Development Partnership or its partnering organizations. Advertising rates and specifications are available by contacting the Chamber sales department at (330) 458-2067.
One project that definitely has us ending the year on a high note is the addition of Tozzi’s Restaurant in the space previously occupied by Fedeli restaurant on Court Avenue. Duke and Dina Tozzi are experienced, long time restaurateurs that are excited to bring their vision to downtown Canton, a vision that has included opening downtown’s first martini bar, Picciano’s, and now adding a cosmopolitan eatery to the Arts District landscape. After four years of vacancy, this new restaurant will reenergize Court Avenue. Another new restaurant endeavor, Sports Therapy Bar and Grill, is opening on Cleveland Avenue in the Burger King location. Read about both of these exciting projects in this issue of Downtown Developments.
the events and happenings in our city. We want this website to be your go to place for downtown information. We invite you to visit our new online home this month.
Also on the game changer front is the purchase and rehabilitation plans for the 430 Market Avenue building. This building, which most recently housed the Moonlight Ballroom on the upper floor and a retail shop on the first floor, is destined for greatness. Josh Harris, the driving force behind In The Round Design Group, is living his vision of moving his growing business downtown and rehabbing our last major blighted building along Market Avenue. This project will take lots of time, patience and money, but the result is a long-term win for our center city.
Finally, as the year ends, we want to invite you to take part in our favorite holiday event, Light Up Downtown, on Dec. 1. The event is perfect for all ages, so plan to bring your entire family for entertainment, attractions and refreshments across 16 blocks in our center city.
Soon you will be introduced to our new website, DowntownCanton.com. Our goal is to capture all of
The Downtown Canton Special Improvement District (SID) is embarking on the creation of a plan for downtown living. In a few months, we expect to determine our potential housing market downtown. We plan to inventory existing units, and create a list of buildings that could be repurposed for living units. To keep our dow n town vibrant, we need people living downtown. We look forward to publishing this report soon.
T h a n ks for your continued support of our downtown and remember to visit our retailers, restaurants and art venues for your holiday shopping.
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Two NEW restaurants planned downtown Downtown Canton will welcome two new restaurants to the fold this winter. Read on for details on what diners can expect as temperatures cool down.
Tozzi’s Restaurant Downtown Canton (Tozzi’s Downtown) David “Duke” Tozzi and wife Dina launched Picciano’s Martini Bar two years ago. The downtown libation staple has become a favorite place for after work drinks and charity events. But the family histo ry in re sta u rant service goes much farther back. Tozzi’s Restaurant of Magnolia was opened in 1914 by Tozzi’s grandfather as a spaghetti house for coalminers and day laborers. Passing down through the generations, it is currently owned and operated by the Tozzis, but has not reopened since a fire struck the restaurant in April of this year. While working on reopening the historic location in Magnolia, the Tozzis have turned their attention to the promise of the downtown Canton arts district with plans to open a new venture in the space previously occupied by Fedeli (218 Court Ave. NW). When diners walk into Tozzi’s Re staurant Downtown Canton in February of next year, they’ll be treated to a familiar ambiance – the contemporary dining room, the vast, welcoming downstairs bar – but with distinctly Tozzi twists. And you can count on equal parts of influence from both the Magnolia location and the martini bar. “The menu at Tozzi’s Downtown will have a similar vibe to that of Magnolia’s,” explained Duke Tozzi. “The best way we can describe it is as a ‘Italian steakhouse,’ but heavy on the seafood.” Tozzi’s Downtown will serve fresh fish from the Honolulu Fish Company in Hawaii, the same company that Picciano’s uses for its recently-added sushi menu. Executive chef Mark Green will serve up some of the best cuts of locally-sourced steaks, prime rib and more. Interesting pasta dishes and classic favorites will abound: spaghetti and meatballs, fettuccini, Duke’s famous lasagna and more. There will also be signature cocktails, unique concoctions that are reminiscent of the custom concoctions at Picciano’s, but all these drinks will be all their own. A small cocktail hour bar menu will include gourmet nachos and other reimagined pub style favorites. Small plate options will be available tableside, too. The bar area will feature light live jazz and piano bar music on Friday and Saturday nights earlier in the evening; those who want entertainment late can then head down to Picciano’s. “Our goal is to make Tozzi’s feel like home, but better,” said Dina Tozzi. “Come down, relax, do your thing. Mingle, or not. People have a bar at home
they can drink at, a kitchen they can cook at. What we can offer is great food and drink, with a wonderful staff in a chic environment. The total package.” Tozzi’s Downtown will be open through the week and on Saturdays for dinner, as well as for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays. Chef Green worked at the Shamrock Café, located in the same place more than a decade ago, making sandwiches – he’ll now be making the signature corned beef Shamrock along with other delicious, deluxe sandwiches for Tozzi’s. “We plan on being a big part of downtown for as long as we can,” said the excited couple. “We want to thank everyone for their past support, and for, we hope, their future support. We love doing this and can’t wait to welcome you to our new place.”
Sports Therapy Bar & Grill Just outside of the Canton Arts District in downtown Canton, Todd Brown and Dadisi Curtis are busy at work transforming the previous Burger King fast food location into a sports bar. “We were both born and raised here in Canton. We’ve seen it change over the years, and what we’ve always wanted to see is something other than fine dining to get a foothold here. We’re filling that niche with Sports Therapy Bar & Grill. It’s an all-out sports bar, but one that is welcoming with just a touch of an upscale appeal,” said Brown of the new venture planned for 201 Cleveland Ave. N. Brown and Curtis have traveled the country seeking unique sports bars to help shape their vision. Ultimately, Sports Therapy will have an unexpected look, from cozy fireplaces to an LED sports ticker running the perimeter of the room, to theatre-style “Man Cave” complete with reclining seats. “You’ll just have to see it to believe it! This is our dream, and it’s a big job, but we love going through the process,” said Curtis. The new business duo explain that the entire interior of the building is being renovated to ensure that the venue is appealing. They hope to entwine with the area community, participate in First Fridays, and make their bar and grill one that is comfortable for families, too. But most importantly, when the bar opens in December, you won’t be able to turn your head without seeing a television screen – basketball, baseball, football, hockey rugby and more, and each booth will have its own television. Full bar fare will be available, from wings to finger foods and appetizers, to sandwiches. In the evenings, expect a heartier daily special. Sports Therapy Bar & Grill will be open Monday through Thursday and Sundays, lunch to midnight; Friday and Saturday, lunch to 2 a.m.
Fi rst Fri d ay TIDBITS Notes of all sorts will be flowing through the downtown Canton Arts District during the Noteworthy November First Friday on Nov. 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. Hear sounds of notes with live music gracing art galleries and restaurants, read notes of local poets that will be posted around the district and learn to write notes as you take a workshop from a local composer. With new art exhibits all around town, Canton First Friday in November will be one to take note of! Deck the halls with lots of cookies, fa la la la la! Cookies and Carols First Friday on Dec. 2 will deliver as much joy as you can imagine. Hop from gallery to gallery tasting each one’s specialty cookie to make your taste buds tingle while listening to inviting live holiday music that will make your ears hop with happiness. You can even pickup creative cookie recipes along the way that will help you fill your friends and family with delicious desserts throughout the season. Be sure to plan on shopping as you go, the downtown Canton Arts District offers unique gifts that you can’t find anywhere else, for a price that will make your night. Cookies and Carols First Friday on Dec. 2 is happening from 6 to 10 p.m. First Friday is celebrated every first Friday of the month from 6 to 10 p.m. in downtown Canton. First Friday is presented by ArtsinStark, the County Arts Council, and the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.DowntownCanton.com and click on the First Friday logo.
New DOWNTOWN CANTON WEBSITE launches
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ooking for a comprehensive guide to all of the vibrant art, delectable dining, unique shopping and incredible entertainment that our center city has to offer? Want to get the latest
news on downtown Canton, and can’t wait for your bi-monthly copy of our Downtown Developments newsletter? The Canton Development Partnership has unveiled the new interactive downtown Canton website at DowntownCanton.com! The new site will help both out-oftowners and right-here-in-towners find their way to all of t he businesses and events in downtown Canton.
If you are a downtown business owner, or plan events downtown, you can even add your business listing or event, or modify existing listings. For questions about the new site, or information on how to add your listing, visit DowntownCanton.com and click on “Add a Listing” or “Add an Event,” or contact Jessica Bennett at jessb@cantonchamber.org. Please help us grow and keep this exciting new portal fresh and up to date.
The downtown portal will include custom listings for businesses, organizations, attractions, and venues in downtown Canton, complete with photos and details, online wayfinding maps for all listings and events, user reviews and comments and social media sharing. You’ll also have access to all of the latest news and happenings in downtown Canton – new businesses, development news and more!
CHARGE ahead! Canton’s new NBA D-League team unveils name and logo
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fter much speculation, fan contests and focus groups, the Cleveland
Cava l i e rs
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announced that their new NBA D-League team in Canton will be named the Canton Charge. At the same time, the team’s colors, logo and court design were also debuted. The events took place at the Canton Memorial Civic Center, which will serve as home court for the Charge. “The Canton Charge franchise is powered by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they are truly energized by the Greater Canton community,” said Cavaliers President Len Komoroski. “Today, we are proud to unveil a team identity that is very much the result of a collaborative process between our organization and the great fans here.” “We’re very excited about this and we think Charge is not only a great name for the team, but it can also help reflect an attitude and mindset for our entire community. Canton is charging ahead in multiple ways, and we’re working hard to make our future better and better,” said Canton Mayor William J. Healy II. Extensive research was conducted to best determine the team identity by inviting fan input and direction in various forms. Thousands submitted their thoughts and ideas online via the team’s official website – now www.CantonCharge.com – and social media
outlets. Fan focus groups and fan-on-the-street interviews also took place. Fans wanted the team’s brand to translate the passion they already had for the Cavaliers and at the same time, to create a team identity that reflected great pride and energy in an aggressive way. “Our fans spoke. We listened, and then we let their input and direction serve as the guiding element for our development process,” said Cavaliers CMO and team identity development process leader Tracy Marek. “It was a fun process and we think we ended up with a great name, logo and colors that represent what the team, the fans and the community collectively wanted. To CHARGE ahead!” The goal was also to have the new team’s identity fit well with Canton’s strong history of being a passionate and supportive sports community. “There is a great partnership and momentum that can be created when a community, a team and fans all charge ahead together in support of each other and I think our business community understands how important and exciting this can be,” said Denny Saunier, president & CEO of the Canton Re g i o n a l Chamber. “We look forward to being part of the fun and seeing the positive impact the Charge will have here.” The Charge begins their inaugural season at the Canton Memorial Civic Center on Friday, Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m. against the defending NBA D-League Champion Iowa Energy. Individual game tickets will go on-sale in early November. The full schedule has been announced and is online.
Season tickets for the Canton Charge are on sale now and start as low as $5 per seat. Season ticket benefits include an invitation to exclusive team events, discounts on official team merchandise, participation in special on-court game night events, access to discounts and special offers at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland and much more. All inaugural season ticket holders are also automatically included as members of the Canton FOUNDERS CLUB and will receive an exclusive Canton Charge winter fleece jacket. FOUNDERS CLUB membership, in addition to regular season ticket holder benefits, also includes a very special and exclusive package of perks that begins this season and continues for all future seasons. Please check CantonCharge.com for a full listing of Canton Charge FOUNDERS CLUB benefits and information. To secure season tickets or for more general ticket information, fans can call (866) 444-1944 or go online. Unique Fan Experience packages for group outings (20 or more tickets together) are also available for each Charge home game. For more information on special group seating, or to place an initial $100 group payment, call (330) 489-5988.
Introducing the New Canton Heritage Home Program
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sole partner lender for this program. There are no upfront, out of pocket costs for the Heritage Home loan – a 2% CRS technical assistance fee and the Bank’s $125 origination fee are added into the loan amount – and there are no closing costs or points involved. And, the accrued interest from the loan is tax deductible!
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ave you been putting off those nagging re p a i rs to an older home? Does your roof need attention? Do you need to paint your wood siding or trim? Perhaps there are things you’ve meant to do to make your home more energy-efficient before winter, or a kitchen you have been meaning to update. Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Inc. (CBP) and the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) have partnered to introduce a specialized maintenance program for owners of historic homes that are 50 years old and older with the Canton Heritage Home Program. KeyBank, the Program’s funding partner and the Canton Preservation Society have also been instrumental in the launch of this exciting Program. The Canton Heri tage Home Program, which is administered by the CRS and supported by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and the State Treasurer, provides low-interest financing and free technical advice to enable owners of one to three-unit properties to maintain and update their historic buildings. Although CBP and CRS will target specific neighborhoods that have high concentrations of historic housing stock, including Ridgewood/ Vassar Park, West Park, Market Heights, and Harter Heights, the Canton Heritage Home Program will be available throughout the entire City of Canton.
“As a neighborhood revitalization organization, CBP has focused our efforts on developing comprehensive incentive tools and programs aimed at resident participation of time, effort and money. A key program in developing a robust incentive package for residents is a rehab loan program. The solid offering of rehabilitation services of technical and financial assistance that CRS brings to Canton neighborhoods supports our approach, and places resident investment at the core of the revitalization effort,” said Joel Owens, CBP director. The professional Canton Heritage Home Program staff will provide free, in-depth assistance to homeowners via site visits to answer questions, provide custom construction specifications and planning assistance, historic color consultations, collateral materials and more. CRS’s preservation staff has made over 2,500 home visits through a similar program in Cuyahoga County, and they are now excited to announce its availability in Canton. Homeowners can also apply for the low-interest Heritage Home Loan, which is a fixed-rate that is typically at or below 3.5 percent, to fund a large variety of home maintenance, restoration and improvement projects. Houses that were built 50 or more years ago and have no vinyl or non-original aluminum siding are eligible to apply. Examples of qualifying projects are roof replacement and repair, painting, porch repair, sensitive additions, window repair, storm windows, kitchen and bath renovations, green retrofits and much more. KeyBank is the
The CRS’s team of historic rehabilitation specialists can answer your questions about the proper repair and maintenance of your older home – all at no charge. They may even be able to help you fund your important projects. If you are interested in finding out more information on the Canton Heritage Home Program, or to see if your house and project pre-qualifies, call (855) 897-1949. You can also email the Canton Heritage Home Program at heritagehomeprogram@clevelandrestoration.org.
About CBP Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Inc. (CBP) is Stark County’s community development intermediary and is committed to restoring the health and prosperity of Stark County neighborhoods. CBP is a partnership of foundations, civic leaders, government, and businesses committed to neighborhood revitalization. Mark Samolczyk, president of Stark Community Foundation, currently serves as CBP’s Chairman of the Board. To learn more about CBP, visit www.communitybuildingpartnership.org
About CRS The Cleveland Restoration Society is the region’s largest non-profit preservation organization, and is a Local Partner affiliate of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Founded in 1972, CRS is dedicated to the preservation of Greater Cleveland’s historic resources. The Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Inc. operates its Healthy Neighborhoods Program in six Canton neighborhoods and is committed to revitalizing neighborhoods by working to enhance the physical condition, image, involvement and investment of residents, and real estate market in these areas. The Canton Heritage Home Program will aid these efforts by providing residents information and access to funding to undertake home rehabilitation with an histo ric preserva t i o n approach. To learn more about CRS, visit www.clevelandrestoration.org.
Special Improvement District Annual Meeting The Downtown Canton Special Improvement District (SID) annual meeting will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m. at Anderson Creative (located at 331 Cleveland Ave. NW). This meeting will include a review of 2011, the election of board members, and the presentation of SID annual awards, which recognize projects and investments in our downtown. All property owners in the SID, as well as members of the public, are welcome to attend the meeting to learn about downtown projects and to network with fellow property owners, downtown supporters and business owners. Please RSVP by calling Annette Rosenberger at (330) 458-2092. The SID is a non-profit corporation that provides programming to preserve the economic well being of downtown Canton. It is dedicated to preserving the aesthetic, architectural and historic character of the downtown area, and is funded by special assessments on downtown property owners. Boundaries of the district generally are Ninth Street on the south, 12th Street on the north, Savannah Avenue on the east, and High Avenue on the west.
Light Up Downtown ... You’ll see merry musical helpers like Sugar Plum Fairies, Reindeer, Frosty and all of the toys from the North Pole. When the man in red arrives, he offers a spectacular gift to Christopher, topping off the evening with fireworks and fun. With Christopher poppin’ up at Light Up Downtown – there’s sure to be fun croppin’ up around every corner. Tons of Family Fun and Holiday Hoopla! Light Up Downtown, presented by the Canton Development Partnership, a department of the Canton Regional Chamber, returns for another year of downtown family fun. Light Up is your chance to watch 16 city blocks come alive with attractions, entertainment, refreshments and fun for children of all ages. The excitement is happening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Canton. This year’s Light Up will feature Christopher PopIn-Kins, every child’s favorite elf, in a very special musical main stage show that will light up the skies and light up your spirits with community musical acts, fantastic fireworks and a ho, ho, holiday visit from the man in red. You’re in for a night of surprises and fun for all ages! Best of all? This festive festival is FREE! More than 100 local performers will take to the stage, performing holiday favorites such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Marshmallow
In the Round ...
World, Here Comes Santa Clause, Ain’t getting’ nuttin’ for Christmas and many more. The event pre-show, sponsored by Mix 94.1, will run from 5:30 to 6 p.m., followed by the main stage show. You can look forward to carriage rides, singing and local dance troupe performances, children’s crafts and activities and much, much more! The downtown center city is transformed into a winter wonderland for the occasion, and our local businesses will provide activities and refreshments as you take in all the holiday delights our community has to offer. Donate Hats & Mittens! During the event, the Canton City Fire Department will distribute hats and mittens to children in need. If you would like to donate new children’s hats and mittens, please bring them to one of our donation boxes, located at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and other downtown Canton locations, between now and the Light Up event. Visit LightUpDowntown.com for a list of all donation locations. Light Up Downtown will be held rain, snow or shine. There will be plenty of free parking, both on-street and in the Timken High School and Stark County District Library parking lots, as well as parking in various decks and lots throughout downtown for a nominal fee.
Our event sponsors to date include: Key Bank, AEP Ohio, along with the Aultman Health Foundation, Motorola, Kenan Advantage Group, Downtown Canton Special Improvement District, Shearer’s Foods, The Repository Mix 94.1 and WHBC AM, PPI Graphics, The Karcher Group and The City of Canton. Visit LightUpDowntown.com for a full schedule of events and more about Christopher Pop-In-Kins. For those looking to double the dose of downtown holiday hoopla, the Cookies and Carols First Friday on Dec. 2 will continue the holiday festivities downtown. Visit CantonFirstFriday.com for First Friday details. About Christopher Pop-In-KinsTM and Imaginatives® Christopher Pop-In-Kins, written and published in 1985 by Flora Johnson of Atwater, Ohio, is the award winning story of Santa’s “very first Children’s Elf.” Imaginatives is the creative team behind Christopher Pop-In-Kins. Located in Alliance, Ohio, Imaginatives specializes in the development, marketing and distribution of children’s books and toys. For more information, visit Christopher Pop-In-Kins online at www.ChristopherPopInKins.com.
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The $1.4 million project to purchase and renovate this historic building is estimated to take nine months, and Harris is eager to move into his new downtown Canton home. “We’re about being a part of and serving the community, both through our client base and the interests of our staff. When we started to look for a new office location, we looked all over central Stark County, seeking a place where we could be more plugged into local community,” said Harris. “One of the things that interested us in downtown is being in the heart of the action – the resurgence downtown, the arts district, the small business growth. Many of our staff members are involved in downtown-centric organizations and events. We want to be part of the business community, but also the broader community.” While there were other locations and buildings that were potentially more cost-effective to relocate to, Harris also sees the big picture of the benefits his renovation project will afford to the downtown
Canton landscape in restoring a vacant building to its former glory. “We tend to recruit heavily among young professionals. There’s a growing interest among young people about downtown city centers. They’re working for more than a job and paycheck, and renovating a building downtown makes us standout as a business that appeals to these young people,” explained Harris. Harris credits several entities in helping him make his downtown plans a reality, including Mike Gill and the Canton Development Partnership and service director Warren Price and the City of Canton. He’s grateful as well to the many other business owners who have taken the plunge before him, investing in downtown Canton and taking the time to offer advice and insight on the process. Harris grew up here, but never imagined he would stay. After living and working in bigger cities, he discovered along the way that Canton is a strategic place for In the Round. Despite having clients
across the country, it is Canton’s cost of living, geographic convenience and easy access through the Akron-Canton Airport, educational recruitment opportunities and easy commutes that garner him quality staff, access to emerging talent and the ability to be competitive. “There are many small businesses in the area doing innovative things in the technology and in the creative arenas – together, we are the future of this region. We’re creating high-skill, high paying jobs,” said Harris. “We need to be encouraging boomeranging and facilitating the environment for young people to stay here and to come back here. They’re a big part of the sustainability equation.” Harris is looking forward to joining the downtown community when In the Round opens their downtown doors next summer. While he and his staff are becoming experts at churning out quality work in their current cramped quarters – literally bursting at the seams — he anticipates doubling his staff size again in the next three to five years.
BIG BOUNTY for this year’s Farmers’ Market The Canton Development Partnership would like to thank all of our wonderful market ve nd o rs, our Canton Farmers’ Market supporters and customers, and the community of downtown Canton for a n other great market season! For the last 18 weeks, Canton Farmers’ Market vendors have offered the Stark County community the ripest produce, organic meats, artisan cheeses, fresh breads, delicious baked goods, vibrant flowers, healthy snacks and much, much more! This
year, the market was proud to be featured on Food Network TV’s “Restaurant Impossible” featuring Chef Robert Irvine, and the market was voted Stark County’s Best Farmers’ Market by the reader’s of About Magazine! This would not have been possible without our wonderful vendors, loyal customers and generous spons o rs. Special thanks goes to market sponsors , including the Dow n town Canton Special Improvement District, Aultman Health Foundation, The Repository, Mix 94.1 and News-Talk 1480 WHBC, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the City of Canton. While the market may have ended for this season, we’re already looking ahead to next year! See you all in June!
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Community Garden BLOOMS in Summit Neighborhood
The dow n town Summit Neighborhood Community Garden has just completed another successful garden year! The Community Garden, which is located at the intersection of Fifth Street and High Street NW, houses over 85 8’ x 9’ beds that were full of various fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. Gardeners were very happy with the newly added raised beds, created by Project Rebuild. The organic garden increases the community’s awareness of the benefits of locally-grown food, and helps to ease food costs for the residents of the Summit Neighborhood as well as the other gardeners. In its third ye a r, the downtown Summit Neighborhood Community Garden, which is sponsored by J.P. Morgan, The Chase Foundation and the Stark Community Foundation, continued to serve as a source of resident social interaction, creating a greater sense of community pride and increasing personal connections. The garden will reopen again next spring for another fruitful season!
Want to advertise here? Contact Denise Burton, 330.458.2067. Cost is $75 per issue. more event information at www.DowntownCanton.com November 1
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(through Jan. 21) Exhibit: Beth Moon Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography www.josephsaxton.com (through May 4) Exhibit: Rising to the Occasion Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography www.josephsaxton.com Dinner and a Movie Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org Soup at Six: What Does It Mean To Be Green? McKinley Presidential Library & Museum www.mckinleymuseum.org First Friday - Noteworthy November Downtown Canton www.cantonfirstfriday.com First Friday Family Movie Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org A Few Good Men Players Guild Theatre www.playersguildtheatre.com Exhibit: Into the Light Anderson Creative www.andersoncreativestudio.com Masterworks Concert: In Rememberance: Civil War Canton Symphony www.cantonsymphony.org Three Stooges Film Festival Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy 2nd April Galerie & Studios www.secondapril.org Young People’s Concert Canton Symphony www.cantonsymphony.org “Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam” Kathleen Howland Theatre www.secondapril.org Christkindl Markt Canton Museum of Art www.cantonart.org A Few Good Men Players Guild Theatre www.playersguildtheatre.com Canton Christmas Show Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org Ace Hood and Da Kennel Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org Soup at Six plus Exhibit Preview: “Unwrapping the Holidays” McKinley Presidential Library & Museum www.mckinleymuseum.org Mike Albert and the Big E Band Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org
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“Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam” Kathleen Howland Theatre www.secondapril.org Dancing with Canton’s Stars Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org LIGHTS Concert 2011 Holiday Tour Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org Day After Thanksgiving Activities McKinley Presidential Library & Museum www.mckinleymuseum.org Milk & Cookies with Santa & Movie: A Christmas Story Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org Movie: A Christmas Story Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org
December 1 Light Up Downtown Downtown Canton www.downtowncantonevents.com 2 First Friday - Cookies & Carols Downtown Canton www.cantonfirstfriday.com 2 Annual Holiday Party McKinley Presidential Library & Museum www.mckinleymuseum.org 2 (through Feb. 26) Exhibit: Focus Fiber 2011 Ted Lawson: A Moment in Time Evocations: The Art of Martin Bertman Canton Museum of Art www.cantonart.org 2-31 Exhibit: Ludlow Prep, 1929 Anderson Creative www.andersoncreativestudio.com 2-4 A Christmas Carol-The New Musical Players Guild Theatre www.playersguildtheatre.com 2-4 VOCI Lite presents: Ye Olde Madrigal Feaste Voices of Canton www.voicesofcanton.org 3 Scared Scriptless Improv Comedy 2nd April Galerie & Studios www.secondapril.org 4 Masterworks Concert: Pressler Returns Canton Symphony www.cantonsymphony.org 5 Holiday Concert Voices of Canton www.voicesofcanton.org 9 Holiday Hearth Dinner McKinley Presidential Library & Museum www.mckinleymuseum.org 9-10 Santaland Diaries Kathleen Howland Theatre www.secondapril.org 9-11 The Nutcracker Canton Ballet www.cantonballet.com
10-12 10-12 15 16 16-17 16-18 17 18 28-30 29-30
A Christmas Carol - The New Musical Players Guild Theatre www.playersguildtheatre.com Christmas in Candy Cane Land Voices of Canton www.voicesofcanton.org Dinner and a Movie Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org Folk Friday 2nd April Galerie & Studios www.secondapril.org Santaland Diaries Kathleen Howland Theatre www.secondapril.org A Christmas Carol - The New Musical Players Guild Theatre www.playersguildtheatre.com Jason Farnham & Friends Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org About Showcase Concert Canton Symphony www.cantonsymphony.org 3x3 Science Samplers McKinley Presidential Library & Museum www.mckinleymuseum.org Art Film Canton Palace Theatre www.cantonpalacetheatre.org