Clean sweep earns couple a Golden Broom

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Clean sweep earns couple a Golden Broom

Wednesday, July 11, 2001

By Johnna A. Pro, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

For Yung and Charles Lee, keeping their storefront as well as the street and sidewalk in front of their business clean and neat is part of their daily routine.

Yung and Charles Lee have received a Golden Broom Award from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership for their efforts in keeping neat their storefront and the street and sidewalk in front of their shop, The Headgear, at 216 Fifth Ave. (Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette)

But their efforts haven't gone unnoticed.

Yesterday, the 'Burgh Busters, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership's summer cleaning and litter crew, presented the couple with the city's first ever Golden Broom Award, a citation that will be handed out each month during the summer to a small business and corporate entity that strives to keep the city sparkling.

"We were very surprised," said Charles Lee, who opened The Headgear at 216 Fifth Ave. 10 years ago. "The things we've done, we've done every day. It's part of the job. We care about a clean city."

Businesses are selected based on the following criteria: That they pay special attention to the storefront area, keep the entry and windows gleaming, and adhere to city ordinances for trash removal.

"It's great to see all businesses Downtown keeping their storefronts clean. We just wanted to do something special to recognize their effort," said 'Burgh Buster captain, Ben Marx.

Mellon Bank received the corporate Golden Broom Award for its effort to beautify the city with its new public space, Mellon Green.

The 'Burgh Busters enhance the partnership's existing Downtown cleaning efforts by performing songs and skits at scheduled events to educate the public about keeping Downtown clean. The team consists of seven high school and college students with experience in the performing arts.