ARTICLE
When I was young, there was nothing more exciting than “going downtown,” as we used to call it. My mom would give me my token to catch the bus, a little money for lunch, and I’d race three blocks to the bus stop, knowing I was in for an exciting day. Before I knew it, the big, exhaust-spewing beauty would arrive. I’d hop on, put my token into the slot, grab a seat in the back and I was off for one excellent adventure. I loved the hustle and bustle of the city. The fumes, the sound of the whistles from the police guiding traffic at each corner and the people. Lots and lots of people. Our Lehigh Valley cities were alive, bustling with excitement and overflowing with commerce back then. Our cities were places to enjoy life. Go to the library, shop for clothing, catch a movie, eat lunch. Everyone came together. People traveled to our Valley cities from outlying communities just to feel the excitement of the shopping experience and be around lots of people. The 1970s, 1980s and beyond weren’t so good for our cities. We discovered the suburbs, and cities were left behind to try and figure out what happened. Cities asked: Why did so many people leave us? What did we ever do but provide a center for our community? Will they ever come back? During this past holiday season, I had breakfast in downtown Bethlehem at The Flying Egg. It happened to be snowing that morning, and as I looked out the window, it was a picture right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The snow was falling, and the gorgeous street lights and beautiful facades of the quaint retail stores made for a picturesque background. What made it even more special was The Flying Egg was packed with people. People eating, laughing and sharing stories among friends and business associates. That afternoon we had the Chamber’s board meeting in the Hotel Bethlehem ballroom. The hotel looked and felt so amazing. The decorations were gorgeous, and the holiday music coming from the lobby piano made everyone feel so alive. Again, people. Hundreds of people filled the lobby laughing, sharing stories and just enjoying the atmosphere. A few days later, I found myself having dinner at Sette Luna in Easton. It was a weekend night and we were going to a show at the State Theatre. Again, people. The restaurant was packed with happy, carefree people. We walked to the theater from the restaurant, and even more people were hustling to the show. Cars filled with people lined the streets anxiously waiting to enter the parking lots nearby. That city was rocking! And I was loving it. The following weekend, I took my daughters and my granddaughters to the “Disney on Ice” show at PPL Center. My 3-year-old granddaughter perched upon my shoulders as we walked with thousands of people to the entrance of the arena. “Papa Tony,” Summer yelled to me. “The city is beautiful and so many people!” She has a propensity to be overjoyed by things we may take for granted. And perched on my shoulders, she saw and felt the excitement. Just like our cities, I’d come full circle. The very feeling of excitement in the very same place that I felt as a child, my granddaughter was now experiencing almost 50 years later. If that doesn’t bring a tear of joy to your eye, then your heart’s not beating. I’m painting this Pollyannish picture of our Valley cities because they have earned it. Like us, they’ve been through good times and struggled through tough times. They’ve been through the discovery of the suburbs. They’ve competed with massive, climate-controlled malls that people flocked to instead of downtown. They’ve endured the completion from dreamy, easy access lifestyle centers, yet somehow made it through the tough times. So every time thousands leap to their feet at a Phantoms goal or performers get a resounding applause at the State Theatre, or a newly married couple shares their first kiss at the Hotel Bethlehem, know that our cities are smiling. Smiling because the one thing they loved, the one thing they so missed, was the people. The people they’ve patiently waited for are now back. That brings a tear of happiness to each city’s eye. After all, it’s always been about the love of people. Tony Iannelli is president and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at tonyi@lehighvalleychamber.org. Read the original article here.