South Congress Avenue Sees Development, National Retail Move In

Shortly after Home Slice Pizza opened on South Congress Avenue in November 2005, the power went out. The gas pizza ovens did not rely on electricity, so co-owners Terri Hannifin and Jen Strickland decided to stay open. They found enough flashlights to make sure the kitchen was safe and asked an employee to bring in a guitar. A customer who lived in the neighborhood ran home and brought back a bag of candles. Over the past 14 years, the development of the power grid is just one of many changes along the corridor, business owners said. Many local businesses—including antique store Uncommon Objects, which opened in 1991 and relocated in 2017—have been priced out due to sharply rising property values. Click to read more at www.communityimpact.com.