Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania a once depressed old coalmining area is on the upswing. Ideas and a lot of hear have been around for some time to improve the empty and in some areas, eyesore of a downtown. Ten years ago when the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza was erected, the area just outside city limits, Wilkes-Barre Township saw a huge change-a once barren landfill is now concrete city with every box store and chain restaurant available.
But aside from all that, there are some newer gems, thanks to a new administration and lots of young-thinking people, have recently opened downtown.
Here are some new hotspots in Wilkes-Barre for dining and/or entertainment.
1. Campus Billiards
This pool hall has dozens of tables, a state-of-the-art sound system and snacks. The hall offers a place for college students and pool sharks to hang out and play a friendly game of pool, or to enter in a tournament. Right now anyone can play, but the hall will soon require membership. The place was designed by one of the nation’s best pool players.
2. Bart & Urby’s
This new downtown bistro is in New York City style. The bar/restaurant offers a great ambience with great colors, hardwood floors and tile, coupled with a professional crowd, great music and delicious food. The menu has appetizers and ‘bar food’ as well as sandwiches, seafood, pasta, steaks, salads and more, priced moderately to go along with its attraction to the professional crowd. However, after dinner hours, college folk are known to stop by. The bar offers 24 beers on tap and over 70 bottles.
Since at least 1996, there have been talks about putting a joint bookstore downtown to service the two city colleges. Public Square is the perfect center between the King’s College and Wilkes University and is now the home of a brand new Barnes and Noble. One of the bigger Barnes and Nobles, this is a two-floor complex. On the first floor is the regular books and coffee shop. Aside from a place to get a good read, downtowners have been awaiting a Starbucks for years for their coffee fix. They finally have one. An elevator or escalator takes folks down to the lower level which sells text books to students, as well as school supplies. The upper level also sells Kings and Wilkes merchandise.
4. Arts YOUniverse
Arts YOUniverse, located on South Franklin Street near Wilkes University, offers art lovers a unique experience to well, experience a variety of art. Local artists of all sorts rent rooms in this old mansion. The public is free to enter and watch artists making their masterpieces in their own studios. Artists also conduct classes at their studios. The mansion also has a gift shop and has art displayed throughout. Additionally, they have offered several events throughout the year, such as fashion shows, art walks and a special Valentine’s Day event where couples get to choose from several art forms. Couples choose two events, like pottery making, getting a quick portrait, getting a love poem written or getting serenaded.
5. Wilkes-Barre Movies 14
There has not been a movie theater in downtown Wilkes-Barre for years. The F.M. Kirby Center for Performing Arts often shows independent films and other series, however, this summer Wilkes-Barre finally got its theater. In just part of a huge renovation project on the storefronts of downtown, the theater is the first tenant. From its name, you can tell there are 14 screens with stadium-seating. The theater itself is just very cool-looking. Patrons walk in and get tickets on the lower level, but the ceilings are open to the third floor. Then, moviegoers go up a tall escalator to get the theater, snack bar and arcade. On the outside, the streetscape looks like a historical downtown would have.
Downtown Wilkes-Barre now has a little bit of everything. New places to eat, new places to play and now, a place to dance. Club Mardi Gras has the same owner of the successful Scranton club, Flashbacks. The club plays music from the 80s and 90s and has several bars to get drinks from.
7. Fuse
This is a new martini bar located in the Midtown Plaza. The place is more of an upscale place to have a few martinis after work.
Okay. This is not downtown. But it must go in this article as one of the coolest new things to do in Wilkes-Barre. (Although it is located in Plains Township!) This is the first casino in Pennsylvania. The Mohegan Sun is open and operating 1100 slots in a two-floor complex that has bars, snack bars and a food court with a pizza place, coffee shop and more. The complex is an addition to the already existing horse racing tracks. An huge expansion project is already underway-phase II of the operation will add about 900 more slots, restaurants and clubs.
As a resident of the area, I can say that honestly one of people’s favorite things to do in the Wilkes-Barre area is to complain that there is nothing to do. That pastime should come to an abrupt end. There is plenty to do!
