Downtown Salisbury Inc.

I come from a small midwestern town, where on any given Saturday my brother and I would walk from our house, down Platt Street and up four blocks to Main Street.  Anything we could ever need and the only place we ever shopped was on that street – penny candy from Carter’s Five & Dime (Okey Dokey & Co, anyone?), new church shoes from Loxtercamp’s (Ralph Baker Shoes), or a box of nails for Dad’s next project from Hager’s Hardware (how about Bernhardt’s Hardware?).  We could grab lunch at the Corner Café (that could be Sidewalk Deli), an ice cold pop at the soda fountain in City Drug Store (maybe Innes St. Drug), or cream horns and fresh-baked cookies from Wigwam Bakery (the soon-to-be The Sweetest Thing).

My first trip ever to Salisbury was for my first interview for my current position.  And as I drove through town for the first time I thought, “This reminds me so much of my hometown!”  The feeling of familiarity was comfortable and seductive.  I could imagine living near downtown and walking to town, like I did at home; or stepping through the doors of any store and being greeted by name, like I did at home; or stopping on the street corner to discuss the day’s events with most anyone, like I did at home.  And it so happens that I didn’t just imagine these things, I lived them.  And I loved them!

I love Downtown Salisbury.  It’s just like coming home…