I'm starting this thread to encourage people with ideas and/or money to step up and offer either to help save the building. I'll try and gather accurate information on the status of the building, where it stands now, what is owed to whom, etc. Let's see if we can come up with the facts and what will work to make the space viable for tenants of the sort of small businesses that people in town would like to see located there.
One idea I think might be worth exploring is the idea of a public corporation where residents - and anyone else - subscribe to shares for the purchase and rehabilitation costs of the Arcade. Anorher is the Village becoming the owner if some outside public funds could be found - perhaps by turning the finishing into a shovel-ready project that would qualify for some of the Stimulus funding that appears about ready to flow.
As for businesses - Let me throw these out: How about a reincarnation of the old "Grill-ette" with some summer-time outside seating in the old Chew-Chew spot? Or an old time (but good) pizza parlor, with checked tablecloths and chianti bottle candle holders?
OK - have at it - all you thinkers and lawyers and bankers and residents... Let's see if we can find something that will work in these troubled times... Share your thoughts = positive, negative, in-between. GO!