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October 2008 Newsletter |
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|  Mission Statement:Downtown Salisbury, Inc. promotes, enhances and manages the development of the central business district in a manner which makes the district the economic, governmental, social and cultural center of Rowan County. We address the needs of neighborhoods and businesses within and adjacent to the Municipal Service District. We accomplish our mission through economic restructuring, design, promotions and building partnerships. |
Upcoming Events  Halloween FunFest, Saturday, October 25, 3-6 p.m., presented by City of Salisbury Parks & Recreation Department and Downtown Salisbury, Inc. Nominal charges for games and rides. Children of all ages dress up and compete in costume contests. Games for kids, Haunted Trolley Rides, other activities. Trick or treating from 4-5 p.m. with downtown merchants for children 12 and under; please note that children must be in costume and accompanied by an adult.
Livingstone College Homecoming Parade, Saturday, October 18, 10 a.m.
Holiday Night Out! Friday, November 28, 5-9 p.m. Free event! Santa and the Grinch make their first of several downtown appearances. easonal music around downtown, activities for children. Save money, save gas, shop downtown!
Santa & the Grinch at the Bell Tower, Saturday,  November 29, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Bell Tower Park, W. Innes & S. Jackson Streets.
The Arc Festival of Trees, Friday, December 5, 7-9 p.m.; Saturday, December 6, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, December 7, 1-5 p.m. at F&M Trolley Barn, 125 E. Liberty St.
Celebration of Angels, Saturday, December 6, 10-11 a.m. at Eastern Gateway Park, 300 E. Innes St.
Santa & The Grinch Fire Trucks, Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., board at Okey Dokey & Co, 126 E. Innes St.
Camp Christmas Child Care, Saturday, December 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at F&M Trolley Barn, 125 E. Liberty St. (Reservations strongly encouraged, 704-633-5636, ext. 104.
 New Year's Eve at the Bell Tower, Wednesday, December 31, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. at the Bell Tower Park, W. Innes & S. Jackson Streets. Live music, cookies, hot cider and cocoa while you wait to ring in the New Year at the old Bell Tower! |
Downtown News Sweet Meadow Café, 188 W. Innes St. Fred Pizzardi, owner of Sweet Meadow Café, is proud to announce that they are open Friday evenings by reservation only. Please call (704) 637-8715 for menu information and to make reservations.
Seminar for Small Businesses, offered by Rowan Cabarrus Community College's Small Business Center. On Monday, October 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Plaza Building, 100 W. Innes Ave., SBA offers Business Website Trends, a seminar on what customers expect today and how to get the best web strategies for tomorrow. Free and open to the public, this seminar is presented by web guru David C. Ross. Please contact RCCC's Small Business Center at (704) 216-3512 for more information.
Pecha Kucha, 122 E. Innes St. The fun, fast-paced international phenomena of Pecha Kucha is coming to EastSquare ArtWorks in Downtown Salisbury on Friday, October 24, 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and offers creative types (artists, architects, designers, filmmakers and more) an exciting new way to showcase their work and explore new ideas. Derived from the Japanese word for "conversation," Pecha Kucha is an intense, condensed style of presenting creative information using no more than 20 images that are shown for exactly 20 seconds. Each "show" takes 6 minutes and 40 seconds, then the next presenter is up. Founded in Tokyo, the concept is intended to force creative types to produce presentations that are concise and powerful. Presenters can talk about their work, or any wild idea that they're passionate about. Please call (704) 754-0670 or visit www.EastSquareArtWorks.com for information. |
Empire Hotel Update  DSI continues to work toward the redevelopment of the Empire Hotel, an 88,000 square foot property on 1.39 acres which we purchased last year through our 7 member loan pool made up of local banks. We advertised the property, received qualifications from 7 development firms and have narrowed the search to one developer. By the end of October, we should have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place with a developer who will then start a one year study of feasibility and planning with the goal of returning the building back into an operational hotel. While the financial market is weak, the demand for hotel rooms in Salisbury has remained strong and the project has great promise. Information on the proposed developer will be released at the signing of the MOU. |
| Economic Restructuring Committee  The first and second floors of 102 S. Main are under contract to Toby Hagmaier who plans to move her business Southern Spirit Gallery from Denton. Toby plans to live on the second floor and will be a great addition to the downtown. The 1,368 square foot third floor is still available for $99,920 or roughly $65 per square foot. Special Thanks to F&M Bank Revolving Fund for making this project possible. Brad Walser recently purchased 108 S. Main and will begin rehabilitation soon for his website/computer business. You can stop in for coffee now with Kirk and Arba Knapp at Tastebuds which is open at 106 N. Main. Great renovation, great coffee, and great people who are a wonderful addition to our downtown! They moved back to the area from Hawaii so stop by and give them a big e komo mai (welcome) to our downtown family. It's hard to contain our excitement about the Fisher Street Theatre  which will soon be under construction. DSI has also completed demolition of the dropped ceilings at 213 S. Lee. This house will make a great specialty retail or office space and will have additional parking in the near future. Please call Randy at DSI at (704) 637-7814 if you have interest. We also have new demographics available to downtown businesses who want to better understand their market. Email Randy at
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if you would like a copy via email. |
Parking & Traffic Committee Kubilins Transportation Group, Inc. of Charlotte is assisting DSI evaluate the possibility of a left turn lane on Innes that will allow easy access from I-85 to the south side of the downtown. We have lost more than one substantial development project because of the circuitous route requires to get to that area of the downtown. It continues to look like narrower lane widths will allow us to continue to have 2 lanes in each direction, parking on both sides AND a new turn lane. The narrower lanes may also have the effect of slowing Innes Street traffic, creating a safer and more enjoyable experience for downtown pedestrians. The committee continues to look at stop light removal on side streets. Traffic moves much more efficiently now that several have been removed. Gone are the days of sitting at a light on Fisher and Church when there is no one else at the intersection. Thanks to the City Council, our traffic engineer Wendy Brindle and everyone who helped make this possible. |
Public Art Committee  Plans for the first annual Salisbury Sculpture Show are well in place. The invitational brochure has been mailed to regional sculptors, and the website is up and running - www.salisburysculpture.com. Twelve pieces of art will be selected and installed at various designated sites around downtown (please refer to the website for actual site locations) and will be up from April 2009 through January 2010.
The Cotton Mills Pocket Park, to be installed at S. Church and W. Fisher on the Wachovia Bank corner, is well into its first stage of development. Children representing all public and private middle schools in the county have had their first sculpting workshops with their art teachers, volunteers, and consulting artist Ray Moose at Waterworks Visual Arts Center. These workshops allowed the children to create their own clay tiles, each with an original historic representation of the local textile industry, which will be installed in a brick serpentine wall as part of the project.
Two historic postcard replicas have been installed on the southeast wall of the Doug Jones Insurance Company, 214 E. Innes St., to welcome those entering downtown via East Innes Street. Other replicas are being considered to join the first two. |
Promotions Committee  The Promotions Committee welcomes its new members Missie Alcorn (Caniche), Connie Baker (EastSquare ArtWorks), Arba Knapp (Tastebuds), and Jon Planovsky (Critters). Current members include Committee Chair Glenda Dyson, (Just The Thing), Mickey Black (Salisbury Emporium), Audrey Eudy (Salisbury Post), Sherry Lowery (Stitchin' Post), Bette Pollock (Okey Dokey & Co.), and Von Poston (Salisbury Square Antiques). The downtown events the past few months, which included Krazy Klearance and Krazy Night Out, 70s Night Out Disco Party, and Family Night Out, were all well-received, well-attended and quite successful, in spite of some occasional threatening weather. Downtown Salisbury was honored to host this year's United Way Campaign Kick-Off during Family Night Out, along with its most popular activity, the Soap Box Derby down N. Main Street! Staff is busy preparing for the holiday events (please see Upcoming Events elsewhere in this newsletter) as well as getting the 2009 events schedule in place. |
Open Call for Website Videography  Do you have a hankering to make videos, or know someone who does? We're looking for volunteers to interview and shoot video of downtown merchants about their businesses, which we will then post on our YouTube page. If you're interested, please email a letter of intent and samples of your work to
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or mail to:
Betz McKeown
Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
P.O. Box 4166
Salisbury, NC 28145 |
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28th DSI Annual Meeting
Downtown Salisbury, Inc. held its 28th Annual Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Stelia Café & Lounge, 118 N. Main St. Deemed DSI's best party, er, annual meeting ever, the owners and staff of Stelia showcased a magnificent spread of food and a generous supply of refreshments. DSI award winners for 2007-08 include the following downtown renovations: Michael & Diane Young for 115 E. Innes St.; Jon Planovsky & Bob Lambrecht for Critters; Missie Alcorn & Lesleigh Drye for Caniche Tea Room; Geof & Christine Wilson for 128 E. Innes St.; Glenn Ketner & John Ketner for 305 N. Lee St.; Heather Stout for Loft 130; Gina Miller & Juan Correa for Stelia Café & Lounge; and Chris Bradshaw for 322 Depot St. Other awards were given to: F&M Bank's Revolving Fund; Empire Hotel Project loan pool members F&M Bank, Bank of North Carolina, Citizens South, Community Bank of Rowan, Wachovia, Community One Bank, and First Bank; Director of the Year, Mark Lewis; Volunteer of the Year, Betty Dan Spencer; Salisbury High AFJROTC members Kyle Lane, "Frenchie" Siguenza, and Nate Spicer as event volunteers; Mitch & Catherine Houck as Santa & Mrs. Claus; and outgoing DSI Board members Janie Allen, Mike Miller, Edward Norvell, and Bette Pollock. |
| NEW BUSINESSES!
Brick Street Tavern, 122 E. Fisher St.
Downtown Salisbury's newest dining establishment offers its guests a warm, open, comfortable meeting place for dinner with family and friends or a drink after a long day at work. Brick Street Tavern's menu features a Southwestern flair, but that's not all there is! Take your pick of 13 tantalizing appetizers, follow it up with your choice of dinner salads and a hearty bowl of Brick Style Chili, or sit back with a steak cooked just the way you like it. The diverse menu offers something for everybody, from sandwiches and wraps to a number of delicious entrees. Owner John Casey says they're open and ready to serve the community and are proud to be a part of Historic Downtown Salisbury's business community. "Good Food. Good Friends. Good Times!" Dining Hours: Sun-Thu, 5-9:30 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 5-10:30 p.m. Bar Hours: Sun-Sat, 5-closing. (704) 637-6047.
Hot Junk, 205 S. Main St. In keeping with the ever-more-popular "green" theme, Hot Junk owner Josef Medlin carries recycled, re-used and vintage items in his new consignment store on S. Main Street. His background in retail is apparent, from the hip window displays to the incredible customer service to the comfortable, customer-friendly atmosphere. Most items, acquired from Miami and New York, are listed at under $20 and include both men's and women's clothing and accessories; Josef hopes to also carry vintage furniture in the near future. Until business really picks up, Hot Junk's crazy hours need to revolve around his "other" job in Concord: Tue & Thur, 6-9 p.m.; Fri & Sat, 2-9 p.m.; Sun, 3-6 p.m. (704) 633-7900.
Tastebuds, 106 N. Main St.
Kirk and Arba Knapp, co-owners of downtown Salisbury's newest coffee shop, keep the business in the family by buying their freshly-roasted beans from Dixie's Roasting Co., based in China Grove and run by Arba's cousin's family. All of Tastebuds' coffees are organic and fair-trade and are available as lattes, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and your plain ol' cup of joe (among other delicious options), as well as by the pound, ground or whole bean. And be sure to try one of their healthful and tasty smoothies! In addition to these delicious beverages, a display case reveals an array of hand-crafted chocolate truffles and other sweet goodies, and colorful fresh orchids from Hawaii line the top of the case. Tastebuds offers treats galore for the eyes and tastebuds! Mon-Sat, 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and evenings after plays and other special events. (704) 245-4134. |
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Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
704.637.7814 downtownsalisburync.com Randy Hemann, Executive Director Betz McKeown, Project Manager Shuntale Smith, Office Manager |
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Downtown Salisbury, Inc. | 100 West Innes Street, Suite 201 | P.O. Box 4166 | Salisbury | NC | 28144 |
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Upcoming Events
2012 DSI Events:
Earth Night Out
Fri, Apr 20, 5-9 pm
Spring Night Out
Fri, May 11, 5-9 pm
Arts Night Out
Fri, June 22, 5-9 pm
Krazy Night Out
Fri, July 20, 5-9 pm
Summer Night Out
Fri, Aug 3, 5-9 pm
Kids' Night Out
Fri, Sep 7, 5-9 pm
OctoberTour Night Out
Fri, Oct 12, 5-9 pm
Holiday Night Out
Fri, Nov 23, 5-9 pm
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