Walking through the city today, one can witness a beautiful mix of progress and attention to history. As you walk down the streets, you’ll see bustling new businesses, vibrant new developments, and historic buildings towering proud and high over the rest of the city. You might even find yourself face-to-face with some of Wooster’s young entrepreneurs as you explore the city’s wonderful food scene and all the businesses it has to offer. These developments are critical parts of what makes Wooster today such a fascinating place.
Rubbermaid’s Exit from Wooster
During the 1990s, Rubbermaid found itself in the hands of unstable management and a seemingly harmless merger, leading to an era of uncertainty and later departure of the brand from Wooster. The CEO at the time, Stanley Gault, had originally planned to hand the reins to Robert E. Fowler Jr, however, learned a few years later that Fowler could not step into the position. Gault would retire in ‘91 until returning to find his permanent replacement, Wolfgang R. Schmitt.1Hodges, 2020
In addition to a management crisis, a confirmed merger in 1999 between Rubbermaid and the manufacturing conglomerate Newell Brands Inc. would lead to a drop in the company’s stock and poor sales from the Wooster plant. 2003 marked Rubbermaid’s official exit from Wooster and to Atlanta, cutting hundreds of manufacturing jobs and leaving financial uncertainty in its wake.
Despite the loss of Rubbermaid, Wooster has shown financial resiliency, shown by the success of local businesses, and through the progressive developments of Wooster’s North End Shopping District and East of Main Street.
The Evolution of Downtown Wooster
The early 2000s were a challenging time for Wooster. In 2003, Rubbermaid left the city, leaving many without a job and the downtown area without much economic support from its residents.2Kandel Eventually, recovery from this event began; the city shifted its focus towards significant redevelopment projects at this time. The latest of these projects, known as the Downtown Wooster Master Plan of 2015, aims to redevelop large portions of downtown Wooster to meet modern standards and expectations while simultaneously improving the quality of life for residents.3“Downtown Wooster Plan 2015”, 2015 Sidewalks throughout the downtown area have been overhauled, prioritizing modern building materials and pedestrian accessibility. The city has selected under-utilized properties to re-develop into new office spaces and residential properties.4“Downtown Wooster Plan 2015”, 2015
Going through downtown Wooster in 2021, you will notice new gathering spaces for public events and further pedestrian engagement with the city. 5Wooster Downtown Plan, Center Green Plaza & Streetscapes If you’ve been to Wooster in previous years, one of the first things you might notice is a new awning cast over a recently redeveloped gathering area. This is just one of several new gathering spaces within the community. One of the largest of these spaces, an amphitheater, is intended to be a heavily influential addition to the city. 6“Downtown Wooster Plan 2015”, 2015 Upgrades to utilities have also been implemented, raising the quality of life for residents. 7Ickes
Schaffler and Wooster’s Global Economy
One of the largest employers in Wooster today is a German-born auto company that ships parts all over the world.
The Local Food Community
Wooster is home to a strong local food community which is not only rich in history but prides itself on quality and accessibility for its residents. Destinations such as the Local Roots Market & Café established by volunteers in 2009 have created a thriving environment where foods are fresh and locally sourced through the transformation of their business from an empty and isolated building to a bustling marketplace.8Local Roots With the support of the community, Local Roots Market & Café provides a platform to help small farms and food entrepreneurs alike.
Meatheads Union of Ohio is another prime example of how Wooster delivers on high quality goods. Founded in 2016 by Adam Nussbaum, Meatheads is a newly transformed business that is a significant part of Wooster’s local butcher shop scene. Prior to 2016, Nussbaum worked as a butcher at Spoon Market which expanded and renovated when Spoon Market relocated.9Tami Mosser, “‘The Butcher’ Opens Shop under New Name, with New Partner,” The Daily
Record, May 15, 2016, accessed June 4, 2018, http://www.the-daily-record.com/article/20160515/NEWS/305159608.
Nussbaum has been a long-time supplier of fresh and ethically sourced meats for the community, garnering himself a loyal customer base prior to the transition to Meatheads Union of Ohio.10 Meatheads Union,” Meatheads Union, accessed June 4, 2018, http://meatheadsunion.com/.
When traveling along N. Market Street, residents will also notice the Annual Downtown Farmers Market offering goods ranging from produce to baked goods.11 https://www.mainstreetwooster.org/farmers-marketThe event takes place beginning in mid-May and lasts until the beginning of October and has been sponsored by Everything Rubbermaid. These destinations are only the beginning of the expansive food culture that Wooster has to offer, and whether at the Spoon Market & Deli or Broken Rocks Café, there is no doubt of their expectational standards.
Local Roots and the Farm-to-Table Movement
Local Roots started out as a volunteer-run co-op, and is now a source for local and natural foods in Wooster.
New Residents
Wooster has changed in more ways that just the physical. While the city’s population is officially designated as stable, it is still experiencing growth. In 2019, the city’s population was reported as just over 26,000, a 6% increase since 2000.12“Wooster, Ohio City Data” Much of this growth occurred in the first ten years of the 21st century; since 2010, Wooster’s population has only grown by 0.8%.13U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts You probably wouldn’t notice these changes while going about your everyday life here in Wooster, but for Wooster’s economic and urban planners, these figures are understandably significant.
Whether you are living, working, or just visiting, you might have formed a picture in your mind of Wooster as a city of lower- or middle-class white residents. While it is true that Wooster’s population is dominated by white citizens, it would be a disservice to ignore this city’s small but significant minority communities. As of 2018, roughly 7.5% of Wooster’s population identifies as either African-American or Asian, with each ethnicity representing about half of that 7.5%.14Wooster Ohio, Data USA
Community and Civic Engagement
From the generosity and charity of figures such as the late Stanley Gault to a community’s unwavering support and activism, Wooster has developed a strong sense of community engagement. Stanley C. Gault’s philanthropy was instrumental to the community through frequent donations to the college and advocacy for better education and living. He not only transformed the College of Wooster but the entire community through his civic services, a notable act being the construction of a community center for the handicapped and their families. The Freedlander family, like Gault, had roots within Wooster and established a legacy of philanthropy spanning decades. Starting with David Louis Freedlander in 1884, and ending with Herman Freedlander, the family provided the community with donations for parks and their equipment, a theatre, and a swimming pool.15“Remembering Harold Freedlander”, 2002
Giving Back: The Wayne County Community Foundation
The WCF is one of the lead organizations for local philanthropic efforts today.
Alongside the realm of philanthropy, community engagement can also be found through the mobilization of Wooster residents in times of social adversities. The community has stood in solidarity to address the racial injustices that have impacted the nation. National Movements such as – Black Lives Matter – have prompted residents to gather in Wooster’s Main Square, continuing streaks of over 150 consecutive days.16Samantha Ickes, 2020 This display of advocacy is only the beginning for Wooster, as the community continues to grow and become more engaged with the world.
The Black Lives Matter Movement in Wooster
In 2020, the nation started asking difficult questions about the state of law enforcement, and Wooster was no exception.
Looking Towards the Future
Wooster continues to experience new and exciting developments while maintaining its historic charm. Throughout the years, the city overcame many challenges with grace and pride. While population growth remains stable, there are always new people coming into the city with new goals and new projects. Whether you’re testing your tastebuds on the food scene, enjoying one of the new green spaces, or considering starting a business in Wooster, you’ll find that the city is alive and well. No city is perfect, but while walking down these streets, you might just be inclined to think that Wooster comes pretty close.
For Further Reading:
1) Kandel, Stephanie. “Rubbermaid Leaving Town.” The Daily Record. The Daily Record, December 10, 2003. https://www.the-daily-record.com/article/20031210/NEWS/312109984.
2) City of Wooster. “Downtown Wooster Plan 2015.” City of Wooster, 2015. https://www.woosteroh.com/sites/default/files/2018-10/Wooster%20Downtown%20Plan%2011-16-15.pdf.
3) Ickes, Samantha. “Construction Update: A Look at Five Projects in the City of Wooster.” The Daily Record. October 29, 2020. https://www.the-daily-record.com/story/news/2020/10/29/wooster-construction-projects-move-forward-covid-19/3748477001/.
4) Hodges, Derek. “Rubbermaid Company History.” KaTom Learning Center. KaTom Restaurant Supply, April 6, 2020. https://www.katom.com/learning-center/rubbermaid-company-history.html.
5) Tami Mosser, “‘The Butcher’ Opens Shop under New Name, with New Partner,” The Daily
Record, May 15, 2016, accessed June 4, 2018, http://www.the-daily-record.com/article/20160515/NEWS/305159608.
6) “Meatheads Union,” Meatheads Union, accessed June 4, 2018, http://meatheadsunion.com/.
7) “Farmers Market”, Main Street Wooster, accessed August 11 2021, https://www.mainstreetwooster.org/farmers-market
8) “About | Local-Roots.” Local-Roots, https://www.localrootswooster.com/about. Accessed 11 June 2021.
9) “Wooster, OH Data USA.” Data USA. Datawheel, 2018. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/wooster-oh/.
10) “Remembering Harold Freedlander.” The Daily Record. The Daily Record, March 19, 2002. https://www.the-daily-record.com/article/20020319/NEWS/303199974.