In December 2020, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) announced 10 Townie award recipients for 2020. The Townie Awards are a festive and esteemed annual tradition designed to recognize the commonwealth’s core communities and individuals for creation and implementation of projects, programs and events that exemplify the goals of PDC’s community revitalization mission. Eligible communities are part of Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s statewide network of nearly 200 organizations, including Main Street and Elm Street programs, making the Townies a competitive award process each year.
Submitted by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, the West Reading Motor Club received a 2020 Townie Award for the facade improvements to 416 Penn Avenue, West Reading, the former A-Z Building, which had been vacant for almost a decade. The building was founded in 1914 as the West Reading Motor and Hardware Company, and also served as an auto dealership.
Adam Coccuza, a West Reading restaurateur, managed the project and said of the recognition, “I’m so honored to have this vision come to near completion and have it nominated and awarded a Townie Award. When we first purchased the old A-Z building, I knew there was something special under the broken signs and many layers of white paint. I’m so proud to be a part of the ever growing West Reading community, and can’t wait to reopen the doors of both Nitro Bar & West Reading Motor Club.”
West Reading Main Street Manager, Mark Ratcliffe, added, “We are fortunate to have the Coccuza family in our community. They have taken on a number of projects including Say Cheese Restaurant and a retail space next door at 602 Penn Avenue. They alway do a spectacular job with every project and are helping transform West Reading.”
The Townie awards ceremony typically takes place as part of PDC’s annual statewide conference, held in a different commonwealth community each year highlighting the respective city or town’s accomplishments in community and neighborhood revitalization. The 2020 and 2021 Townie Award winners will be recognized at the 2021 PDC Conference to be held September 12 – 15, 2021 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Reading, PA.
PA Downtown Townie Award Designation
Category: Physical Improvements & Design
Program: Individual Façade Restoration
Project: West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, West Reading Main Street – “West Reading Motor Club” Formally the A-Z Building
