Loans help give facelift to Hawthorne business fronts

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Barbers inside Diamond Bridge Barber Shop in Hawthorne are used to helping people spiff up their appearance. After being a staple in the community since the early 1900s – the shop is receiving help upgrading the front of their shop. "It probably still looks like the same like it did even 50-60 years ago…Everything needs a facelift every once in a while, so we're excited." said Alex Patane, the owner of Diamond Bridge Barbershop. Officials are giving loans of up to $10,000 to downtown shops and property owners who invest in improvements to their facades. The owner of Fat Moes, a Mediterranean restaurant, is one of the 10 businesses so far taking advantage of the loans. "We're going to paint the bricks blue, we’re changing the awning…it's going to be amazing," said Mohamed Khalil. Loans are provided by the borough through the Neighborhood Preservation Program and are available on a first come, first serve basis. It’s an initiative run by the state Department of Community Affairs to revitalize commercial business districts. "It's more of a beatification of this town,” said Nancy Agnello, the Neighborhood Preservation Program coordinator. Business owners are hoping the revitalization will attract new businesses and customers to the area. If businesses owners maintain their upgrades for the next 10 years, they will not have to pay back the loan. The program coordinator says the hope is to eventually offer loans to businesses on Lafayette Avenue. "