WILKES-BARRE - Last week, we told you about two longtime businesses in downtown Wilkes-Barre that were closing. This week we have three new businesses coming to the Wilkes-Barre area.
Bartikowsky's and the Citizens Bank branch closed up last week, but now two new jewelers are coming to the area and so is a new yoga studio.
All are set to open next month.
If you've shopped at Bartikowsky jewelers in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Carol Hannon and Rick Antolick may look familiar. The former Bartikowsky employees are now opening their own jewelry store in Wilkes-Barre Township.
"There was, you know, a lot of people that expressed interest on where they're going to go, so we decided it was the right decision for us to open a new store,” said Ron Antolick of Raco Watch and Jewelry.
Raco Watch and Jewelry will open on Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard.
Antolick and Hannon still have to move in the jewelry cases which they bought from Bartikowsky's. But that's not the only thing they hope to bring
"We've got a great following from Bartikowsky so I think we're going to see a lot of traffic up here,” said Carol Hannon.
Michael Taylor and his wife also hope to fill the jewelry gap in the Wyoming Valley. They already own Ocean Gold in Nanticoke and now they're opening a second store in the historic Frank Clark Building on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Taylor says the Frank Clark Building still needs some work, but he hopes his business here will help fill the void Bartikowsky's left behind.
"You have to hold yourself to that higher standard because you don't want to be the one to change the perception of that building. Ever."
That's because this building dates back to the late 1800s but has been vacant since the jewelry store there in the 1990s.
And just across the street, there are plans for another empty storefront, this one for a donation-only yoga studio. Owner Kelly Corazzi already has a studio in Scranton.
"It's always sad when a business closes, but I hope to be a good help with opening something up,” said Corazzi.
The yoga studio is working toward a March 1 opening.
The jewelry stores plan to open a little later next month. The Taylors bought the entire Frank Clark Building and hope to eventually renovate apartments above the store.