For Immediate Release: January 12, 2011

Contact:
Larisa Ortiz Pu-Folkes
718-205-5116 (wk)
917-696-1374 (cl)
lortiz@larisaortizassociates.com

‘BEST CHAIN ON MAIN’ CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Regional and National Chain Stores Help Transform Urban Commercial
Districts

Queens, NY, January 12th, 2011 -- The Commercial District Advisor (CDA), in partnership
with the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), today announced the winners of the
first annual 'Best Chain on Main' competition, which recognizes regional and national chain stores that pave the way
for commercial revitalization. Winners were chosen based on their investment in underserved urban markets, ability
to provide excellent service, maintain clean and attractive stores, storefronts and merchandise displays, and their
contribution to local commercial revitalization efforts.

The Best Chains on Main were chosen from a nationwide pool of nominees submitted by retailers, community
groups, and local residents. The winners represent a diverse cross-section of merchants, from clothing stores to
coffee shops to grocers.

The first place winner is Villa, an urban-inspired apparel and footwear retailer with 26 locations throughout the Mid-
Atlantic Region.

“Villa succeeds by combining profit and socially responsible business practices” says Farah Jimenez, President &
CEO of People’s Emergency Center Community Development Corporation (PECCDC), the neighborhood-based non-
profit leading local commercial revitalization efforts along Lower Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia, where one
of Villa’s stores is located, and the entity that nominated Villa. “Villa’s arrival in 2008 significantly advanced our
commercial revitalization efforts. Their gleaming storefront served as an example that helped inspire other
businesses and property owners to improve their storefronts and window displays. Since then, we have completed 15
façade improvement projects in our district – 8 on Villa’s block alone.”

“Villa is proud to receive the top honor as the 2010 Best Chain on Main,” says Jason Lutz, Villa’s President and CEO.
“This award exemplifies Villa’s strong commitment to the communities we serve— by providing our customers with
quality merchandise and excellent service, by supporting neighborhood initiatives, and by setting a positive example
through good storefront design. We believe the respect we show our communities through these efforts is a
cornerstone of our success.”

Second Place was awarded to Pamela’s P&G Diner, a uniquely themed restaurant chain with six locations in and
around Pittsburgh, PA. Third place was awarded to The Fresh Grocer, an urban grocery store chain with eight
locations in the Mid-Atlantic. Honorable mentions were awarded to Mugshots Coffee House and Café, a coffee shop
with 3 locations in Philadelphia, PA, and Gothic Cabinet Craft, a furniture retailer with 33 locations in and around New
York City.

Entries were evaluated on the following categories: Exterior Appearance, Interior Appearance, Customer Service,
Willingness to Locate in Low- and Moderate-Income Communities, and Donation to Local Causes. Submissions were
judged by a nationally recognized panel of retail, real estate, design, and economic development professionals,
including:
• Cynthia Stewart, Director of Community and Government Relations at the International Council of
Shopping Centers (ICSC), the global trade association for the shopping center industry.
• David Bodamer, Editor-in-Chief of Retail Traffic, the nation’s leading business-to-business publication on
retail real estate trends.
• Jeffrey Finkle, President and CEO of the International Economic Development Council, the world’s largest
 membership organization serving the economic development profession.
• Ken Nisch, Chairman of JGA, one of the nation’s leading retail design, brand strategy, and architectural
firms, and 2010 recipient of DDI Magazine’s “Retail Design Luminary” award.
• David Feehan, President & CEO of Civitas Consultants, former President of the International Downtown
Association (IDA), and author and editor of “Making Business Districts Work.”
• Joe Getz, Principal of JGSC Group, downtown retail consultants.
• Jake Cowan, Director, LISC MetroEdge, the nation’s pioneering urban market research firm located at the
Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

“The winners of the Best Chain on Main operate in neighborhoods that are largely underserved with respect to retail
—they show that retailers can operate successfully in these places while also providing quality services and products
in a clean inviting atmosphere” says Director of LISC MetroEdge Jake Cowan . “A single store can have a ‘chain
effect’ on an entire district – and that has been the case with the winners selected.”

"We are excited to recognize chain of all sizes that lead the way in making their commercial districts more successful
shopping environments” says Larisa Ortiz Pu-Folkes, CDA editor. “Our winners not only demonstrate that urban
markets are viable, they actively contribute to critical local commercial revitalization efforts, making our cities more
inviting places to live, eat and shop.”

“Many urban retailers have cluttered storefronts and displays, but Villa stood out as a business that recognizes the
value of clean and creative merchandise displays that set a positive example for other businesses through good
design,” says Ken Nisch.

“Restaurants can be a vital neighborhood anchor, and Pamela’s P&G Diner is a prime example of one that draws
customers to its neighborhood through attractive design, a good product, and excellent service,” says David Feehan.

“In a time when many urban neighborhoods lack access to fresh foods, retailers such as The Fresh Grocer are a
model of how grocery stores can successfully serve low and moderate-income communities,” added Jeffrey Finkle.

The Commercial District Advisor is a blog and quarterly e-publication that is distributed to over 3,000 economic
development practitioners in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. CDA Editor and consultant Larisa Ortiz Pu-
Folkes is a nationally recognized expert in urban commercial revitalization. She is Principal of Larisa Ortiz
Associates, and specializes in advising organizations and public entities engaged in commercial revitalization efforts.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is the nation’s largest community development intermediary. LISC
MetroEdge (LME) is the national market research and assessment program at LISC. LME supports LISC by
providing communities with the innovative market research, quantitative analysis, and grassroots community
engagement services they need to correct misperceptions of urban markets, identify hidden assets, and help
communities exercise more control over their economic futures.

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For more information, including photos of the winning chains, the official contest logo, or to schedule an interview
with any of the winners, nominees or judges, please contact:

Larisa Ortiz Pu-Folkes

718-205-5116 (wk)
917-696-1374 (cl)
lortiz@larisaortizassociates.com
Subject: Best Chains on Main