Address: 670-672 S. River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705
Joined the Back Mountain Chamber: 2013
Phone: 570-762-8518
Website: www.thewaterfrontcomplex.com
 
An interview with Gershom Spengler, President and Property Manager, who has been overseeing operations and strategy since 2018.
 


Tell us about your business and your customers:
The Waterfront Professional Park is an approximate 10+ acre parcel in Plains, including 670 and 672 S. River Street and a McDonald’s. The professional buildings are mixed use, meaning we have a varied client base. You’ll find medical offices, an orthodontist/periodontist, professional services and financial services—some of which are Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies that have invested in our area. We offer build-to-suit services so we can develop office space in line with the corporate identities of each individual tenant.
 


We take as much responsibility as we can for the spaces we lease, so our tenants can focus on their core business processes and not become concerned with the space or facility.
 
Over the years, I’ve developed relationships with local vendors that provide excellent services to our tenants. Every partner we work with — from HVAC, plumbing, janitorial, general contracting, landscaping, etc. — is local. Supporting local businesses is a core part of our organizational philosophy and year after year, the vendors we partner with continue to provide great services for us and our tenants.



Share something interesting about your business that most people don’t know: 
Making sure our tenants are safe is paramount. In response to the Pandemic, we completed significant HVAC upgrades, including bipolar ionization units, in tenant spaces and the restaurant (River Grille) as well. These units work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to clean the air before it goes into the suites, offices and restaurant. We were deliberate about this investment and wanted to provide the longest runway of benefit for our tenants and facilities for an indefinite period of time. 


 
The buildings themselves also present some advantages. We have high ceilings, wide hallway spaces, ample parking, a gorgeous river view and even electrical vehicle charging stations. The location is also key. It’s right off of the Cross Valley and within miles of Interstates 80, 81, 84, 476 and the airport.



What’s your favorite thing about living and working in Northeastern PA? 
I’ve lived all over the country and all over the world. The unique aspect here is the preponderance of family-owned businesses. You can feel the difference when you work with a family-run business. The way they treat people, how they come to know their customers and how they take such pride in their products and services just adds to the local flair and culture of Northeastern PA.
 
When friends and family come here to visit, they always comment on how our local businesses and people truly know one another. Now more than ever, I know that we are making conscious choices to support each other in this area. Continuing to choose local and regional businesses is pivotal to maintaining a strong business community.
 
How does being part of the Back Mountain Chamber help your business?
A lot of our tenants have a presence in the Back Mountain, and it’s only a short drive from the Professional Park. Being a part of the Back Mountain Chamber helps us be accessible to business owners — the people we are trying to reach. Because this Chamber is a bit smaller, the flexibility of the organization and the closeness of the members provide more ability to reach decision-makers faster. There has been a lot of change this past year with the Pandemic and the way Chambers are responding as resources and I can see the outcomes of this work. 



What’s next for the Waterfront Professional Park?
We’re very excited about the development possibilities for the remaining 4 acres on the site. There are so many ways it could be utilized to benefit the local community. Businesses are constantly evaluating their operations and facilities—and I think that the Pandemic has shattered the boundaries many businesses have remained within for years.
 
America’s newly remote workforce no longer has to sit at a desk in a big city to be productive. I think that the Wyoming Valley will really begin to shine as a bright place to do business. We have a vision to attract great tenants, and we strive to retain the businesses that have already established their home base here in the Waterfront Professional Park. Northeastern PA is a unique and strategic place for a business to establish operation.

 

If you or someone you know is ready to explore new space for an office or business, please get in touch with Gershom directly at 570-762-8518 or via email at gershom@thewaterfrontcomplex.com.

Learn more about the Waterfront Professional Park >> www.thewaterfrontcomplex.com.
 
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