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That was almost nine years ago.
But next week, when the ceremonial ribbon is cut and the Lancaster County Convention Center finally opens, that dream will become a reality.
And Carr's Restaurant, along with dozens of other downtown businesses, will be ready and eagerly awaiting an influx of visitors, shoppers and diners to Lancaster city.
"I'm really, really optimistic" about the positive impact it's going to have on downtown Lancaster, Carr said. "I'm cautiously optimistic, but that's the nature of people here. … I'm thrilled that it's there."
"We had heard talk of rebirth and renaissance before," Carr said. "Now, we do have it."
There's the blossoming arts community and the popular monthly First Friday events.
Carr points to the distinctive new educational and cultural facilities of Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, Pennsylvania Academy of Music and the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum.
And there are dozens of unique independently owned stores, he said, not to mention historic Central Market, the likes of which cannot be found in any mall.
"Other little cities and towns are jealous as jealous can be of Lancaster," Carr said. "We have so many things going on downtown … arts, educational and community affairs … we have interesting shops, things that you're never going to find at a shopping center. It's really the last bastion of independent business."
Carr hasn't spent the past nine years just waiting for the Lancaster County Convention Center to open, though.
He's built up a clientele for his restaurant business, adding a Sunday brunch, which is unusual for downtown Lancaster. He plans to reinstate summer outdoor dining on weekends and open a wine bar next month in the street-level space above the restaurant.
Carr also sells meats, cheeses and gourmet specialties along with ready-to-eat meals three days a week at Central Market.
"There certainly have been peaks and valleys with the convention center," Carr said, adding that he, like many other downtown business people, just accepted the attitude of " 'I'm here. If it happens, it happens.' "
And if just half the 300 rooms at the Lancaster County Convention Center's adjacent Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square hotel are occupied, Carr said, "that's 150 people in downtown Lancaster, and they're going to need something to do."
"I look forward to it," Carr said. "Activities attract a crowd … it's one more thing good for downtown … I'm thrilled to be downtown. It's just a wonderful place to be."
Carr, 54, describes himself as a Lancaster native who left home, found his way into the restaurant business and then came back home again.
A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Carr has lived in several places. But he and Jean, his wife of 32 years, decided to return to Lancaster County when their two children were still young.
"No matter where we were," Carr said, "Lancaster was always home."
Now, those two children are adults, and Carr and his wife have moved from the suburbs to a city home on North Mulberry Street. The couple's daughter, Kate, 28, is the restaurant's bookkeeper, while the couple's son, Chris, 26, is about to pursue his master's degree in London.
"For me, it's all about getting people downtown … Lancaster has so much going for it. People here don't always recognize it, but it does."
Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026.
