The quintessential Main Street USA is an image we all have experienced; this ideal where community, social and business meet in harmony. It is America. The sight of towering church steeples, veterans memorials, front porches, Victorian architecture, fine lawns, storefronts, bars, restaurants, post offices, a library, hardware stores, banks and grocery stores is Main Street USA. This is priceless.
Recently in Freehold we lost a borough fixture — the Freehold Foodtown grocery store closed its doors. The U.S. Post Office also never returned to the county seat. This is sad.
Freehold’s downtown, like many other American downtowns, has been revitalized and has much momentum. We will miss the food store, like the post office. Main Street is a two-way street. Progress is not all dollars and cents to the consumer, and cost savings at the big chain stores to save a few bucks and spend more time and gas. We must support our local business, and the business has a reciprocal responsibility to the community.
Business needs to revitalize its shops and dated, stale buildings and draw the community. We must find creative financial incentives to keep our local business, proactively re-establish Main Street and never lose sight of the complex economics of this fragile balance. We must stop and take notice.
Joseph J. Ferdinando
Freehold Township