MILFORD, Del. --- There’s been a sign outside Bikes, Etc. in Milford advertising a retirement sale.
That’s because Jack Sheaffer, owner of the Walnut Street bike shop, is calling it quits after more than 30 years.
Sheaffer notes Milford has changed a lot over that time.
“When my dad had a store across the street there was no Riverwalk. If you wanted to get rid of something, you threw it in the river,” he said.
That river—the Mispillion—has been at the center of the city and an effort by businesses and city leaders to revitalize Milford’s downtown area.
Daniel Bond, owner of the Towers Bed & Breakfast, is among a group of private and public stakeholders who are trying to renovate the Vineyard Shipyards and redevelop much of the surrounding area into a cultural and recreational center.
The process to achieve that goal started last year as Bond and other stakeholders sought support for a study for the project.
“It’s an ongoing process. The key is you have to have a vision and you have to have a group of people who are committed to it and you have to have enthusiastic volunteers. Milford has that,” he said.
Milford Mayor Archie Campbell said there is also an effort to build new townhomes in the downtown area and it could help bring more foot traffic into that commercial corridor.
But Campbell also said the idea of a bustling downtown for small towns and cities is changing—and believes businesses need to consider staying open until after 7 p.m. on many days.
“If you get off work at 5 p.m., downtown is already closed,” he said.
Sheaffer said it’s bittersweet to leave his business but also noted that Milford’s downtown is seeing tremendous growth.
“Things are looking up for Milford,” he said.
