WEST CHESTER >> Stanford Roland “Stan” Zukin, who helped spark the borough’s revitalization, has died at the age of 77.
Zukin, of Zukin Realty, owned 35 commercial spaces and approximately 60 properties throughout Chester County.
“He was a very prominent member of our community who invested in real estate and renovated many historic buildings, while playing an important role in our revitalization,” Mayor Dianne Herrin said.
Diane LeBold, chair of borough council, worked closely with Zukin on several projects.
“In some ways he was so woven into the fabric of this town that his loss leaves a big hole in the fabric,” LeBold said.
Decades ago, Zukin invested in what was then a “seedy” downtown, said LeBold. “He saw the potential in the way he developed these properties.
“He had a vision for what West Chester should be and he renovated these properties to fulfill that vision.”
The Olney High School and 1962 Temple University School of Pharmacy graduate, along with his twin brother, Ronald, were pharmacists at Thatcher’s Pharmacy on Market Street, which later moved to the corner of Gay and Walnut streets.
At age 55, Zukin left the pharmacy business and expanded his real estate holdings.
His son, Wayne, a lawyer, had started a real estate business in Philadelphia and Stan Zukin became an investor.
His other son, Scott, also joined the family real estate business after working as a cabinet maker. Daughter Lori created Zukin Leadership which specializes in executive coaching and leadership consulting.
Zukin was married for 56 years to Elsa Zukin. Elsa said that she met her husband when she was just 12 and he was 13. They attended middle and high school together.
The couple was married in 1961 and moved to West Chester in 1966.
“We worked together, we played together, we fought together and we laughed and held hands together,” Elsa Zukin said.
Son Scott Zukin said his parents shared a “nice dynamic of support and understanding.”
Wayne Zukin said his father “couldn’t have done it without mom.”
All three intend to continue the family business.
“West Chester is in good hands business wise — we’re living through his legacy and will continue to in the borough of West Chester,” Scott Zukin said.
All three Zukin children talked about their father’s strong work ethic. They often visited dad at dinner time and ate in the pharmacy.
Thatcher’s was open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m./365 days a year, including Christmas. The regular staff got the day off and the whole Jewish family would run the store on the holiday. They were often thanked for being the only business open.
Elsa Zukin compared the pharmacy to a convenience store or current-day drug stores selling everything from greeting cards to sandwiches.
“He was doing that before everybody else was,” Wayne Zukin said.
The motto for that 120-square-foot selling area at the first Thatcher’s at 33 E. Market St. was “the little store that has everything.” The motto then changed to “the big store that has everything,” when the pharmacy moved to Gay Street.
“It was not just about the money, it was a service to the community,” Scott Zukin said about Thatcher’s.
Daughter Lori Zukin said her father had both compassion and passion.
“He had an incredible attention to detail, whether it was collecting shells at the beach or collecting buildings in West Chester.
Michael Rotker, Lori’s husband said that Zukin believed in “freedom and equal rights.”
Zukin preserved historic storefronts when converting many of the downtown buildings to restaurants, with housing upstairs.
Zukin purchased liquor licenses and provided tenant improvements and then financed those expenses for the benefit of the tenant.
Borough Manager and former building official Mike Perrone said that he and Zukin had a relationship “like a husband and wife.”
“We loved each other and respected each other,”Perrone said. “When we had a disagreement, I’d take the opportunity to explain in detail.
“Stan would ask a lot of questions and I was more than happy to answer his questions — why the building code reads the way it does.”
Perrone said that Zukin installed fire suppression sprinklers in most all his buildings whether they were required or not, for the safety of the occupants.
“Most people think codes are a deterrent, but Stan became a true believer,” Perrone said.
Business Improvement District Executive Director Malcolm Johnstone said Zukin was an astute businessman.
“He knew what good value was,” Johnstone said. “He knew he could make an investment in a building when nobody wanted to make an investment.”
Zukin often created both housing and businesses at the same property.
“Stan knew how to make living quarters,” Johnstone said, “He made apartments for all demographics – those for people on a budget and luxury apartments.”
In addition, he was a big proponent of quality and safe student housing.
Johnstone said that since the housing building stock is often 100 to 150 years old there are a lot of upkeep costs.
“Stan repurposed buildings without damaging the historic character,” Johnstone said.
Zukin Realty won several Brick and Mortar awards from the West Chester Downtown Foundation.
Development of the Social Restaurant at 119 E. Gay, the Rams Head at 40 E. Market, Yori’s Bakery at 15 N. Church and Mercato at 33-39 W. Market Street led to awards.
Scott Zukin is especially proud of the company’s work developing the former Rubenstein’s Building at 40 E. Market. The building sat empty for a decade and was slated for demolition before Zukin breathed new life into the structure. A restaurant and upstairs apartments now anchor the block.
Don Braceland, borough councilman, said that Zukin had planned to create a hotel at the former Thatcher’s/Rite Aid site.
“That was his big dream, his baby, to put a hotel there and he was still working on that,”Braceland said.
State Rep. and former Mayor Carolyn Comitta said that Zukin always greeted her with a smile and had an enthusiastic attitude.
“Stan loved West Chester,” Comitta said. “He was so proud to be a part of the revitalization of downtown.
“He exuded joy with each building he renovated and reopened for business.”
Zukin got in on the ground floor.
“Stan took a chance on West Chester in the 1960s when businesses were moving to the malls,” Comitta said. “I am grateful to Stan for his vision and hard work over the decades that helped create the vibrant beloved West Chester we all enjoy today.”
Zukin spent much time with his seven grandchildren who he taught how to snorkel, pilot a motorboat and so many other life skills.
Rabbi Michelle Pearlman delivered the eulogy at Zukin’s funeral service.
“He did not shrink from the challenges of life,” she said. “He never saw his personal failures as obstacles, but as opportunities.
“His teachers might have told him he would amount to nothing, but to his mother’s delight, he graduated from Temple with a degree in Pharmacy. His Philly-based ‘city folk’ family members thought West Chester was the end of the universe, but here he saw possibilities.”