MEET greater RDG 2019 NEIGHBORHOODS YOU’LL LOVE HELLO greater RDG, GOODBYE FOMO GREAT PLACES TO WORK IN FIND HISTORY, HIDDEN greater CULTURE+GEMS RDG The CARE you need when you need it We’re ready We’re ready We’re ready SOON QUICKLY NOW Need a FAMILY PHYSICIAN Our URGENT CARE centers Our EMERGENCY ROOM or a SPECIALIST? are ready in Maidencreek, is open 24/7. Our physician referral Muhlenberg and specialist can help. Strausstown. 610-378-2001 Open until 9 p.m. Monday-Friday CALL 9-1-1 if you are findaphysician@ and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. experiencing a medical pennstatehealth.psu.edu Saturday and Sunday emergency For more information on these services visit... thefutureofhealthcare.org WELCOME TO GREATER READING GREAT LOCATION...GREAT PEOPLE! You bring the ideas. We’ll bring the capital. customersbank.com Editor-in-Chief Sarah Hunter-Lascoskie Assistant Editor 8 Ellen Albright Advertising Rachael Romig 31 Graphic Artist Emily McConnell 18 Original Photography Jeremy Drey Publisher Hoffmann Publishing Group Meet Greater Reading 43 24 606 Court Street Reading, PA 19601 MEET GREATER READING meetgreaterreading.org ABOUT 11 45 20 Meet Greater Reading is a publication of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. But more importantly, it’s a living, breathing representation of the place we call home. Come meet us. 40 39 4 2019 MEET greater RDG New name The Joint Commission Disease- Specific Care Certification in Amputee Rehabilitation, Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation, Spinal Same Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Stroke Rehabilitation commitment HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Reading has been committed to a higher level of rehabilitative care for our patients and their families. Under our new name, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Reading, we continue to provide the same inpatient 1623 Morgantown Road rehabilitative care you have come to Reading, PA 19607 610.796.6000 expect, connecting patients to superior encompasshealth.com/readingrehab outcomes and a better way of life. ©2019:Encompass Health Corporation:1371893 Welcome to Greater Reading Inside these pages is a place we can’t wait to introduce you to. But first, a little about us. One of us was born here, raised IT’S TIME here, developed my career, and kept my family here. The other for you to meet relocated from a small town called Brooklyn, New York. But for Greater Reading. both of us, there was no question: Greater Reading is where we want to be. RANDY PEERS President & CEO We’re not unique in that respect. You’ll find a community here Greater Reading Chamber Alliance representing the many that choose to keep their families here, PAMELA SHUPP the professionals and families who came here seeking the best, Executive VP & COO and the people who just couldn’t keep away from what we have Greater Reading Chamber Alliance to offer and returned to settle down here. You’ve never met a community like this. Close-knit and diverse, humble and friendly, ready to celebrate and here to help. 6 2019 MEET greater RDG We’re connected + MEET you should be too. greater RDG Relocating? Looking for the best of what our community has to offer? Let us introduce you to Greater Reading. meetgreaterreading.org MEET greater RDG [email protected] 2019 MEET greater RDG 7 A Downtown in Demand Revitalization is underway in downtown Reading The city of Reading is steeped in history: from an industrial past, to a railroad hub, and a central shopping destination. Today, that history comes alive in new ways, with impressive architecture, longtime community institutions, and a welcoming culture. You’ll be drawn downtown by a diverse population and an unmatched variety of authentic culinary gems representing many cultures. Summer nights sizzle with pop-up beer gardens, theatre performances, outdoor concerts, and more. The city’s signature winter festival brings the ice and fire of the city alive. And, throughout the seasons, you’ll frequent a farmer’s market, lunch cafes with live music, and art shows, to name a few. Reading’s downtown is growing with a Latino flair, meaning you can experience the small shops and cozy eateries that you come to expect from metro areas. Here, you can get to know the people who make Reading buzz. Over the last two decades, downtown Reading has welcomed over $251 million in investment in projects ranging from Entertainment Square (where you’ll see the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts and our state-of-the-art IMAX theater) to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (nationally-recognized for outstanding service among DoubleTrees), while also encompassing an anchor institution – Reading Area Community College. Reading is a “Walker’s Paradise,” according to walkscore.com, with a walkability score of 94/100. Berks County Community Foundation Iconic Harry Bertoia sculptures are dotted throughout the downtown, and Reading’s downtown gets greener with each passing day (and many volunteers!) Come for an event and stay for empanadas at Mi Casa Su Casa, or drink at downtown pubs such as the Ugly Oyster or the Speckled Hen, where you can experience a pint in an authentically restored 18th-century log house. Vibrant streetscapes and urban amenities await! Matt Christine Photography 8 2019 MEET greater RDG FUELING YOUR BUSINESS. FUELING YOUR LIFE. Throughout Pennsylvania, many small and medium-sized businesses like yours are saving hundreds of dollars or more each year on their overall energy costs by switching to natural gas. You can too. Learn more at www.ugi.com It pays to live in Greater Reading Ever wonder how far your dollar goes? We know the answer. Greater Reading is the most affordable place to live, work and play compared to our neighbors.* The average score across the country is 100. Anything less is cheaper (consider it a discount on cost of living!) and anything higher is more expensive. Across the board, the value of Greater Reading is clear. Affordability scale: GREATER READING: 91.2 Allentown: 105.8 Philadelphia: 112.3 Baltimore: 115.2 New York City (Brooklyn): 177.3 Lower Grocery Bills: GREATER READING: 90.4 Allentown: 98.8 Philadelphia: 119.3 Baltimore: 111.6 New York City (Brooklyn): 128.0 A house—or apartment— that you can afford! GREATER READING: 81.8 Allentown: 120.4 Philadelphia: 122.6 Baltimore: 149.7 New York City (Brooklyn): 321.3 Healthcare costs that won’t Image provided by Ann Marie Lander, Berks 360 keep you up at night: GREATER READING: 89.7 Allentown: 96.6 Philadelphia: 103.4 Baltimore: 89.7 New York City (Brooklyn): 109.4 *Data from the 2018 Cost of Living survey conducted by the Council for Community and Economic Research. 10 2019 MEET greater RDG Meet your new favorite neighborhood Small town charm. Total walkability. Lofts and a rooftop pool. Sound like your vision? Or maybe it’s a place where the nearest neighbor is a mile away. It’s here too. Find the place you’ll call home in Greater Reading, whether it’s a historic home, a mature neighborhood, a hip apartment, or brand new developments. Find affordability and the amenities you want at any of our eclectic neighborhoods. BOYERTOWNBOYERTOWN The Boyertown experience is where past meets Boyertown’s hot spots: present. If you’ve ever wanted to take a historic - Peppermint Stick Candy Store (nostalgic candy!) railroad into the secret valley (yep, that exists), - Studio B Fine Art Gallery Boyertown is a place for you. But maybe you also - The Other Farm Brewing Company want to explore quaint shops framed in Victorian (have you tried a nano-brewery yet?) architecture, or see a movie at a theatre that boasts a - Historic State Theatre 100-plus-year history. Or you could spend your day - The Colebrookdale Railroad (a magical journey) picking apples or choosing pumpkins at local orchard Frecon Farms. 2019 MEET greater RDG 11 WESTWEST READINGREADING Diversity is the name of the game. Own. Rent. Yard. Parks. Walk or drive. Take your pick of a brewpub or casual brunch location. West Reading’s close proximity to world-class Reading Hospital and the year-round farmer’s market—not to mention yoga, wellness, and more—mean you can get a high-end experience at a fraction of some of our regional neighbors. West Reading’s hot spots: - MADE Jewelry Boutique and Studio - The Farmhouse Kitchen (organic café + juice bar) - Reading Public Museum - It’s a Gift! (unique gifts + artist submissions) - Chatty Monk’s Brewery CENTRE PARK Unrivaled architectural beauty. A friendly and diverse neighborhood with a close-knit community. Young professionals, longtime residents, and leafy urban charm. If you’re looking for a neighborhood where you can buy a historic mansion for under $250,000 or a charming rowhome for less than $150,000, look no further than the Centre Park Historic District in Reading. 12 2019 MEET greater RDG KUTZTOWNKUTZTOWN Rural backdrop, a state university force, and rustic elegance. Kutztown’s close-knit community, unique shops, and annual festivals and block parties range from a nationally-known folk festival to art crawls. With over 200 businesses in town, you’ll find your new neighborhood happy hour spot, specialty store, and favorite restaurant in no time. Kutztown’s hot spots: - Sorrelli (flagship store for the glitzy retailer) - Folino Estate Vineyard & Winery - Paisley & Company (a bath boutique with a fragrance bar!) - Pop’s Malt Shoppe (for a mac & cheese burger and a shake!) - Saucony Creek Brewing + Gastropub More neighborhoods await. Visit www.meetgreaterreading.org 2019 MEET greater RDG 13 How do you define your ideal space? Fitness centers, concierge service, and trendy, amenity-rich neighborhoods near an urban core? Or maybe you’re looking for the picket fence kind of life, with tree-lined streets and a backyard to entertain your friends? Lucky for you, you can find both options in Greater Reading for a price that won’t break the bank.