Music, fashion to be featured at Story Square rededication
Music and fashion will be featured today at the rededication of Storey Square and the grand opening of three new high-end clothes shops in the former Penn Theater in downtown Uniontown. The event begins with a ceremony at 4 p.m. and culminates with the Bob Newhart performance in the State Theatre Center for the Arts at 8 p.m.
Joseph A. Hardy III, Uniontown Mayor James R. Sileo and family members of the late Walter “Buzz” Storey will take part in the ceremony that begins at 4 p.m.
Carolyn Quinn, who hand painted the mural behind the Storey Square stage, will be recognized during the ceremony.
The new shops, which are owned and operated by Nemacolin Woodlands, will open at 10 a.m.
Models will displays the clothing lines in a fashion show beginning at 5:30 p.m. The models will strut from the shops to the Storey Square stage.
Exquisite features women’s clothes and accessories; Soul Mates has women’s shoes and handbags and Top Hat will sell men’s clothes and accessories. All three have been dubbed the “Nemacolin Collection.”
Uniontown business owner Chuck Cantalamessa and local musician Brandon Petrucci will perform on the stage.
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort restaurants and 30 East Main will sell food.
Uniontown Art Club members Toni Sharp and Nancy McChesney will be painting with watercolors and selling pieces of their artwork.
The work at Storey Square began in June when Hardy had the old Murphy’s building demolished.
The square was enlarged and now occupies the entire area between the State Theatre and the shops.
Contractors started converting the old Penn Theater into the three shops in July and were putting the finishing touches on the stores and the square Friday.
Jessica Hajek, Director of Development at Commercial Center Associates, Hardy’s real estate and community development company, said her boss spent $2 million on the shops and the square.
“Mr. Hardy wanted to create a destination point for everyone to come together and enjoy the beauty of downtown Uniontown and pay tribute to Buzz Storey,” Hajek said.
She said Storey’s widow Polly Storey will cut the ribbon and their daughter Dr. Jeanne Storey Baugh is one of the speakers.
This week alone, Hardy spent $100,000 to install spotlights on the roof of the State Theatre, custom drapes, lighting and displays in the windows facing Main Street and cleaning windows and awnings in that block of Main Street.
Along with the stage, Storey Square features new landscaping, walkways, the mural, lighted bollards and a patio area.
Hajek said Hardy was involved daily with the project and paid attention to even the smallest details.
She said 27 contractors from Fayette County and outside of the area who have worked on Hardy’s projects in Uniontown or at Nemacolin, contributed time, materials or cash to the Storey Square and Nemacolin Collection projects.