New Life On Old Main

VINCENNES, IND. (WTHI) -      Indiana's oldest Main Street finds 2013 is off to a much better start that last year.

     February of 2012 found officials in Vincennes wrestling with a burned down building and businesses forced to re-locate.

     Now downtown Vincennes is coming back with business expansion and a willingness for more growth.

     The names of the businesses along Main Street in Vincennes may change, but the historic old buildings appear to still have plenty of appeal.

     The latest change comes from the expansion of an existing business looking for more showroom space by renovating the building next door.

     Mark McNeece with the Chamber of Commerce calls it one more success.

     "We have a new development being done by Leah Emmons and the people at Pearl and Chrome," said McNeece.  "They're moving into an additional building expanding what they have."

     The Pearl and Chrome is just the latest example of a business expanding here along Main Street in Vincennes, but officials say there is room for plenty of more growth, especially  the vacant lot at Second and Main that used to be the site of the old Gimbel Bond building.

     "I'm sure if you are a developer out there and you wanted to develop that piece of land, the city of Vincennes, the Redevelopment Commission, and other people involved, the city council, would love to sit down and talk to you about it," said McNeece.

     After all, this Main Street is still surviving and thriving after more than 200 years of doing business.

     Leaders point out that even though downtown Vincennes is the state's oldest business district, the community has tried to keep up by adding modern conveniences that include access to free wi-fi.