If you believed what the news stories on the News-Register or KPTV have told you over the last two years, 3rd Street Pizza should be open by now and all should be well after a fire tore through and damaged three downtown McMinnville businesses. However, the news stories seemingly didn’t get it quite.

As the two-year anniversary of the 3rd Street Pizza fire approaches, there’s nothing new to report on the event. There’s no new progress to mention. It sits, boarded up, as just a shell of its former self.

What was once the gateway to downtown is now the eyesore of the core. The days of grabbing a slice with your family, catching a movie, and supporting a small, local business, all while on 3rd Street, are gone. Or are they?

Unless you’re a benevolent millionaire or billionaire looking to help the community with enough money to make things happen, no one person can push forward change at 433 NE 3rd Street. However, if the community of McMinnville *demands* change and helps push forward meaningful progress in the name of local business, affordable dining on 3rd Street, and family entertainment options, then maybe something will happen.

In fact, maybe a good story suggestion for these news organizations would be “Why Did 3rd Street Pizza Say It Was Coming Back But Then Didn’t?” or “Why Hasn’t A Building In A Highly Profitable Business District Been Rebuilt?”. Either story seems like a good read.

-Andrew Brunello