STROUDSBURG – A big change is coming to downtown Stroudsburg. What used to be a vacant property is now going to be home to five new businesses.
What used to be the old Main Street TV and Appliance is under new ownership. The entire place was gutted and now five different businesses are moving in – everything from food to a dance studio, and even a church.
The drywall is still going up, but this space in the 500 block of Main Street in Stroudsburg is already taking shape.
"I looked at the space and I said this would be a perfect spot, bringing people back to Main Street, bring everybody over, and I came up with the idea,” said landlord John Iacono.
Now this will be home to five different businesses, including an MMA gym, a church, a juice bar, and a dance studio.
It’s a big investment landlord John Iacono says, for what will be a Main Street Plaza.
Part of the renovation included opening up a stairwell you haven't been able to walk up it since 1982.
AC’s Diner, the first business, just opened.
"We thought that we would bring something to this community, Main Street; we could broaden everybody's horizon,” said AC’s Diner co-owner Craig Deboer.
The '50s themed café and arcade is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and even late night on weekends.
Marcel Geslicki of Tobyhanna played some games while waiting for his breakfast sandwich.
“I like this. This is pretty unique, you know, and it has the arcade and stuff, things from when I was a kid, so I like that,” said Geslicki.
The owners say they’ve already hired about 40 employees.
"The main thing is, come in, have a great time. We have the arcade, we have live entertainment that we're going to have,” said AC’s Diner co-owner A.J. Hiller.
The other businesses in the plaza all expect to be open by April 1.
“Everybody's wandering off to different areas. Main Street was starting to die out, so I'm looking to bring them all back, bring everybody in,” said Iacono.