Great George Street makes comeback north of Province House
The southern end of University Avenue in Charlottetown was officially renamed Great George Street Tuesday, but it isn't exactly a new name.
In fact, the stretch of road between Euston Street and Province House was called Great George Street from 1768 to 1971.
Downtown Charlottetown Inc. hopes reverting to the old name will help in rebranding and redeveloping the area.
The group wants to widen the sidewalks, bury the power lines, add cobblestones and return to a more historic feel.
"The ability for the shops on the street to be able to market themselves as The Shops of Great George will create a destination and another reason for people to support local on this street as well," said Dawn Alan, the organization's executive director.
She says plans and quotes are in place; the group just need to secure funding.
Most businesses on the street are optimistic about the new/old name.
"With the name change going back to that Great George way, I think it will give us more spinoff and we'll get tied in with the lower part of Charlottetown and the more historic part," said Trevor Pharoah, manager of Beanz Café.
"So it might bring some people up to the downtown more. So I think in the long run it will benefit us."
However, the street name restoration is causing a few problems for business owners who will all have to change their address on everything from letterhead to social media and signs.
Mary Anne Crane, owner of the Downtown Barber Shop, is supportive of the name change, but says it will cost her.
"My outdoor sign, because it has the University address on it and some cheques and business cards," said Crane. "I'm just guessing between $500 to $700 dollars, which is out of pocket."
And some are worried that clientele especially visitors from outside the Island will be confused because Great George Street is split in half by Province House.
"It might be a little confusing for the first week or two, but by the end of the summer, people will probably be happy about the change," said Pharoah.
