When the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce moves out of its basement offices and up to a downtown storefront, it wants to set an example.

The chamber is renovating the inside and outside of its new offices at 182 Main St. in Greenville to give it a historic look, said Douglas Riley, GACC executive director. With metal awnings gone and second-floor arch windows restored, the storefront would blend with the potential look of a historic downtown.

Greenville is about to undertake the first phase of a downtown project, which will include adding Victorian-style street lights and brick crosswalks. Chamber officials are hoping other store owners will follow their lead.

"The borough is doing the streetscape. If we do our buildings, you have the complete package and we can have an attractive downtown," Riley said.

In late June, GACC bought two of four buildings that made up the bankrupt Cascio's Tavern from Greenville Savings Bank for $40,000. By selling the two buildings at a low price, the bank in essence donated one of the buildings to the chamber, Riley said.

The chamber will occupy 182 Main and rent 180 Main to a business, he said. Mike Meeker opened his Meek's Pub and Grill in the other two buildings, 176-178 Main St.

Besides the chance to set an example, the chamber's move will give it more accessibility and more space.

The 2,400 square feet will include a front reception area, with visitor information on Pymatuning State Park and local museums, Riley said. The new building also will include offices and a rear conference room that can seat 50 people for seminars and workshops, he said.

Although with a good landlord in Dr. Eric Mong, the current office in the basement of 206 Main was difficult to for visitors to find, Riley said. With a more visible, ground-level office, chamber officials are expecting to see more walk-in traffic, he said.

A sign over the building's new awning will clearly mark its location, he added.

The new headquarters are expected to be open in January, Riley said.