Survey respondents win prizes

More than 1,000 people entered a local World Wide Web survey earlier this month, which offered the opportunity to voice an opinion while entering to win valuable gift certificates. But only eight were randomly selected to receive prizes. To get feedback on the retailers and restaurants in and around University City, Center City and South Street, University City Associates set up a survey page on the Web earlier this month. UCA is a subsidiary corporation of the University that owns local property. The questions focused on which stores and restaurants in the area were most frequented and which ones were most satisfying. The responses will be used by the Real Estate Department in conjunction with UCA to consider changes. Questions also probed the strengths and weaknesses of local retailers. Issues such as the quality of shopping centers and what type of stores should come to the area were also addressed. Grand prize winner Robert Basic, a Wharton sophomore, received a $100 gift certificate to The Gap. His response advocated bringing specialized restaurants such as a steakhouse on campus. But College senior and winner of a $50 gift certificate to Smile Clothes, Stephanie Kleban recalled showing an interest in healthier restaurants on her survey. Real Estate Project Manager Helen Walker, the driving force behind the survey, explained that the responses have yet to be tabulated. Once complete, they will be made public, Walker said. College freshman Urvashee Patel said a better grocery store close to campus was first on her list. Patel received a $50 gift certificate to the Penn Book Center. According to Walker, the eight winners were chosen at random from the "incredible" group who filled out the survey. Winners were notified through e-mail early last week. Winning a $100 Footlocker gift certificate, John Henry, a researcher in the special pulmonary and critical care division of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said he was "jubilant." Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers Marketing Coordinator Christian Conroy received a $50 certificate to Thrift Drug. University Life Information System Specialist Irene Opendak received a $50 Joseph Anthony Hair Styling gift certificate. College junior Jason Busch received a $50 White Dog Cafe gift certificate and Wharton junior Dimitrias Haramojlis was awarded $50 from Le Bus.