DOWNTOWN DO-OVER: Connors ‘Cornering’ the Market Nora Edinger June 15, 2020 Editor’s note: In this occasional series, Weelunk has looked at downtown’s re-development — from the biggest catalysts to block-by-block changes. In today’s post, we tighten the focus further to one re-develope...
Sarah’s on Main-Small Business Video Series Corey Knollinger July 9, 2019 Editor's Note: This video is part of a Weelunk series focused on small businesses that have recently launched in the Friendly City. Thank you to AT&T for sponsoring this series. ...
An Answer to ‘What’s Next?’ Steve Novotney February 4, 2018 3 The answer to, “What’s Next?” may soon come into focus for downtown Wheeling, but what maybe-could-might happen within the vacant lots along Main Street remains a literal mystery. The Health Plan headquarter...
Wheeling 2018 – Part Three Steve Novotney January 5, 2018 1 (Editor’s Note: This story is the third and final of a three-part series that will examine the potential that exists in the Wheeling area as we enter a new year.) It seems simple. It’s a bus stop, after all,...
December 4, 1876: West Virginia’s Third Capitol Building Dedicated in Wheeling Jeremy Morris December 4, 2017 1 Story courtesy of Weelunk partner West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the West Virginia Humanities Council https://cpa.ds.npr.org/wvpn/audio/2017/12/TWWVH_Dec4_2015.mp3 On December 4, 1876, West Virgini...
Myles Designs For Wheeling’s Times Steve Novotney September 9, 2017 It’s not often when one’s work is seen by thousands each day for an extended period of time, but that has been reality for Matt Myles for more than a month. Myles, president of Chiselbox on Market Street, wo...
Big Weekend in the Big Wheel Allison Skibo June 1, 2017 Feature photo of Wheeling Hall of Fame inductee Bob Villamagna courtesy Oglebay Institute Wheeling is alive this weekend hosting Riverfront Movie Night, the Wheeling Feeling Chili Cookoff, (both free admissi...
Grow Ohio Valley Seeks Hosts Sam Amberg April 30, 2017 Early this summer, another four AmeriCorps service members will arrive in Wheeling to assist Grow Ohio Valley in its mission of establishing a robust local food economy. They will remain here for separate amoun...
Wheeling Hills Alive With Fitness Venues Steve Novotney March 5, 2017 1 It’s a city surrounded by the rolling hills of the Appalachia Mountains, and one employee of the city of Wheeling believes those ridges can be utilized more as recreational and a form of fitness for local resid...
State of the City 2017 Mayor Glenn Elliott March 1, 2017 1 Good afternoon. Thank you all for being here. It is my honor to serve as Mayor of Wheeling and my special privilege to deliver my first State of the City address. Before I recognize today’s honorees and shar...
Award Winning, Record Breaking Show Collides Art and Technology! Michael Hires February 9, 2017 It’s the power & emotion of a symphony orchestra mixed with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and the technology, fun and interactivity of a video game all completely synchronized to amazing cutti...
WLU Makes a Move Downtown Maureen Zambito November 19, 2016 West Liberty University is bringing the Hilltop to Wheeling as it seeks to assist in the downtown renaissance presently taking place. “We are pleased to support the efforts of the City of Wheeling and its le...
Santa Claus Coming To Downtown Wheeling Steve Novotney November 17, 2016 Shortly after Santa Claus rolls through the streets of downtown Wheeling this evening, it becomes about the pizza box. “After the parade is over and most of the people have left the downtown Wheeling area, m...
A Vagabond Comeback for Chef Matt Welsch Steve Novotney October 7, 2016 He realizes people have been wondering, and he respects the fact. That’s why Matt Welsch, known to many as the “Vagabond Chef,” has tried to be as transparent as possible. Nearly 200 people contributed an av...
Inconvenience Small Part of Wheeling’s Growth Steve Novotney September 23, 2016 1 To some, the differences have been obvious. “I can tell you that when I returned to Wheeling after earning my undergraduate and law degrees at WVU, I could tell things were finally happening in the downtown ...
Lessons From Greenville, South Carolina Mayor Glenn Elliott September 19, 2016 1 In mid-September, Mayor Elliott and Jake Dougherty, Executive Director of Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation (WNHAC), traveled to Greenville for a full itinerary, including tours and meetings with ...
Two-Month Perspective – Mayor Glenn Elliott Steve Novotney September 3, 2016 People left here. By the droves, really. For years departure was the only real option for many so they could seek their own version of the American Dream as close as possible to what their family achieved wh...
Do Something: Centre Market Success Story Steve Novotney August 13, 2016 10 On the east side of the Centre Market a few retail businesses are intermingled with residential brownstones, and on the west side a few eateries are highlighted with a brewpub, a wine store, and a few specialty...
An Idea for a Better Wheeling Seth Distefano July 30, 2016 Creating a better future for Wheeling through a State Earned Income Tax Credit When you look around Wheeling, the signs of a collapsed steel industry and a community trying to rebound are all around. The str...
In The Bigs – LGBT, 12th Street, the Blues Steve Novotney July 26, 2016 It’s a little different in Wheeling. Ten cities in West Virginia have councils that have dared to establish protection for discrimination against members of the LGBT communities, but they have done so withou...
Hosting Trump in Wheeling Without a Hitch Steve Novotney June 30, 2016 5 The dinner comprised stuffed chicken breast, roasted potatoes, green beans, a roll, and a side salad, and it was prepared by Undo’s Family Restaurant. After flying from western Pennsylvania to the Ohio Coun...
Kalkreuth Transforms Sparkling Kaley Center Steve Novotney June 22, 2016 Most folks venturing about Wheeling’s downtown district are not able to see the extent of the renovations made recently to the former Riley Building by Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal, which co-owns the bui...
Laura Bissett-Mull: The Next Generation In Insurance Marilyn Mull June 16, 2016 1 There’s an old saying that “timing is everything.” From timing a perfect pass on the gridiron to making the right career moves, it’s all about timing. For Wheeling’s Laura Bissett-Mull, 2016 was the perfect ...
Challenge Wheeling Race Set For Saturday Steve Novotney June 15, 2016 For a third consecutive June, people of all ages, shapes, and sizes will trek their way to 11 different destinations while competing in the annual Challenge Wheeling event scheduled for this Saturday in downtow...
The Children’s Museum – Where Learning Hides as Play Steve Novotney May 27, 2016 One of the most often cited reasons people choose to stay in Wheeling or move back to the Upper Ohio Valley, without fail, is because, “it's a great place to start a family.” And it is. With wonderful sch...
Wheeling’s New Mayor Steve Novotney May 21, 2016 4 Change. Judging from the results of Wheeling’s municipal Election Day, the residents elected change in all but one of six wards, and including the mayor’s position. While two long-term council members dec...
Deserted Pizza Shop Gets New Slice Of Life Steve Novotney April 16, 2016 3 Tom’s Pizza was a little different from DiCarlo’s and Tony’s in South Wheeling because that guy would bake the raw cheese a bit before serving, and the owner had more toppings than the others, too. It was go...
A Pear Tree Spring in Wheeling Charlie Kleine March 30, 2016 1 Ahh, Springtime in downtown Wheeling. I am new here. During the very hot August of 2015, I moved into the biggest house I have ever lived in. It's been a rather long journey getting settled in. The house ...
Intermodal Center May Finally Blossom Thanks To Nearby Development Steve Novotney March 22, 2016 3 It was supposed to be this and that, and it’s not. There are 850 parking spots, and Monday through Friday far fewer than half are filled. The Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center at 14th and Main ...
Duffin Ironing Out Plans For Historic Building Steve Novotney March 4, 2016 12 This is happening for three very specific reasons. First, Kevin T. Duffin is a self-proclaimed gearhead. Second, he adores his bride, Patricia, and his three children. And finally, Duffin loves the fac...
Capitol Signage Should Reflect City’s Progress Steve Novotney March 1, 2016 2 It’s faded, peeling away, none of what is promoted exists today in the same form it once did, and it is time to do something about it. IT is the very large, painted-on billboard on the back of the Capitol Th...
The Fort Henry Mall of the 1970s – Doomed from the Start? Steve Novotney February 27, 2016 10 It was created in 1957 by the members of Wheeling City Council, and it was known as the Urban Renewal Authority. It was funded by the federal government via the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and ...
McKenzie Set For Final ‘State Of The City’ Address Steve Novotney February 23, 2016 For the seventh and final time since he created the event, Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie will present his “State of the City” address before more than 250 local citizens, business owners, and community leaders i...
Falling Bricks Replaced by Downtown Growth Steve Novotney December 12, 2015 3 With every brick that fell, there was one local resident happy but another upset in a community torn between erasing what they always knew of downtown Wheeling and the critical need of evolution. The old Jup...
Kept Promise Part of the Deal for Health Plan Steve Novotney December 3, 2015 2 By now most residents of the Upper Ohio Valley have heard the news – the first privately funded construction in the downtown district of Wheeling in 30 years was officially announced Wednesday morning by offici...
Thornton Clicking & Collecting Wheeling History Steve Novotney October 17, 2015 2 Jim Thornton misses the dark room. It was his personal red-light district, where the developer and fixer in the dishes stank like his heaven, and the clothespins embraced the greatness. It was a creative san...
Pitch Contest Fuels Downtown Businesses Maureen Zambito October 7, 2015 The last two West Liberty University Entrepreneurs Pitch Contest winners have since opened Downtown Wheeling businesses. Today, the two establishments are thriving and inspiring others to do the same. Sept...
D.C. Ventures – Part 2: Acquisition; Puzzles; Tenant No. 2 Steve Novotney September 18, 2015 (Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a series detailing the redevelopment of three vacant properties on Market Street in downtown Wheeling.) They got the building in the middle. All of a sudden “rea...
Progress Reported with Wheeling Projects Steve Novotney September 15, 2015 1 We at Weelunk work very hard to be sure our readers are up-to-date with any developments and possibilities in the Wheeling area, and when there is progress to report we enjoy offering those updates, as well. ...
River City Serves It Up in Downtown Wheeling Steve Novotney September 11, 2015 1 Years before so many local residents were concerned with reinventing downtown Wheeling, Jason Miller and Becky Schmidt were attempting to do it all by themselves . Literally. Miller and Schmidt worked sid...
What Could Be Next For Downtown’s 1100 Block? Steve Novotney September 9, 2015 7 The owners of the structures were not actively marketing the properties, and they also were not protecting the interiors from the evils of Mother Nature. Floors were collapsing on the inside, and bricks were fa...
What does Downtown Wheeling Need? Steve Novotney August 21, 2015 6 It’s a question that has been asked since the opening of the Ohio Valley Mall in the late 1970s and an inquiry being posed more often now because of the continued development of The Highlands in Ohio County nea...
D.C. Ventures – Part 1: Vision, Investment, Tenants Steve Novotney August 5, 2015 (Editor’s Note: This is the first article in a series detailing the redevelopment of two vacant properties on Market Street in downtown Wheeling.) Vince DeCrease wants to document his experiences as he and h...
Independence Hall One Of Wheeling’s ‘Gems’ Steve Novotney March 20, 2015 1 When you take a tour of the West Virginia Independence Hall with site manager Travis Henline as your guide, you come to notice that he places a certain amount of emphasis on the word “west” each and every time ...
Neighborhoods: Downtown Steve Novotney November 7, 2014 4 By Steve Novotney Weelunk.com (Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles that will include profiles on each of Wheeling’s established neighborhoods.) G.C. Murphy. L.S. Good. Sears. Stone...
