A recent South Heidelberg Township resident, Randy Peers sees many similarities between his hometown of Brooklyn, NY, and Berks. While this correlation may surprise some, Peers — the first president and CEO of the Greater Reading Chamber and Economic Development Corporation — clearly has a future vision and an affinity for our region. A veteran community-builder, he is enthusiastic about Berks County and his setting down roots here with his wife Deborah Roman and their 12-year-old daughter Leslieann. When not germinating economic and cultural seeds to enhance our area, he can be found growing actual bounty — veggies! — as an avid backyard gardener.
Q: You’re a native New Yorker. How did you find Berks County?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, but I’ve been very familiar with this area because my in-laws live in Macungie [Lehigh County], so I’ve been visiting regularly for years. We would come to visit family. Of course we’ve often been to Koziar’s Christmas Village and enjoyed shopping and restaurants all over Berks.
Q: I imagine it’s very different here, isn’t it?
It’s interesting. I get asked this quite a bit, but actually it’s not so different. One thing that is, [different] for me, are work-related meetings commonly held as early as 7am, which is something new. In New York it was more like 8 or 9am. [laughs] Overall, however, not too much, but I grew up in a different Brooklyn. Years ago it was a collection of neighborhoods, not the trendy spot it is today. It had a small-town feel much like Berks County, and it’s refreshing to get back to that since Brooklyn now doesn’t feel like I remember it.
Q: Wow, you’re right; I hadn’t thought of it like that. Do you have a favorite new hometown thing – a favorite local food or activity?
The thing that strikes me most is the tremendous business community here. There is such an entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and innovation. There have been many impressively successful businesses founded here — and so many people are philanthropic; there’s an overwhelmingly giving spirit and investment made in the area — it’s just wonderful. And the food is great too [laughs]! There’s a diverse selection of terrific places to eat — American, Italian, Spanish — we’re not missing out on much, but I wish there was a Greek restaurant or a Jewish deli.
Q: So the move hasn’t been too jarring. Anything you’re looking forward to that you couldn’t do in Brooklyn?
I was in an apartment in Wyomissing from January until mid-summer, when we moved into a house in South Heidelberg, so I didn’t get a chance to really indulge my favorite hobby, which is vegetable gardening. I had an impressive garden in New York, including a fig tree that I brought with me, but I’m looking forward to expanding my garden as time goes by.
Q: Your garden is your happy place?
Oh yes, it’s a stress reliever and, like the rest of life, satisfying to see the rewards of hard work. We’re also a baseball family, so we’ve adopted the Fightin Phils and been to a bunch of games. We were Cyclones fans back in Brooklyn and went to games at the stadium in Coney Island, so we’re happy to have a great team here to support as well.
