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…

Dads and kids, bring Mom downtown from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, May 7, the Friday before Mother’s Day, for Downtown Salisbury, Inc.’s annual free Spring Night Out!  Spring Night Out offers an eclectic mix of music and entertainment, art and trolley rides, and fun of all kinds for Mom and the entire family. 

Stroll the sidewalks of Downtown and enjoy live R&B and dance music on Fisher Street by local favorites Divided by Four.  This sophisticated, fun ensemble specializes in variety including ballads, jazz and pop covering 80 years of music.  Other music downtown includes Consumed Youth Band at Bible Book Store, Midlife Crisis at The Blue Vine, and live music at Okey Dokey & Co.

Check out the Classic Cars in the Farmers Market lot.  Or load the entire family on the Trolley for a free spin around town.  Or pick up a Salisbury Sculpture Show brochure and see if you can find all 19 sculptures located around the heart of Salisbury.  Or check out the vendors with Bloggers Fair, an online community that networks with business experts in an online business setting – vendors will be set up in front of host businesses to display their products and services; bloggers will review the displays; giveaways and discounts will be offered. 

Or meet the Kannapolis Intimidators mascot, Tim E. Gator, and get your tickets to the Intimidators’ Salisbury Night game on Saturday, May 15.  Tickets purchased tonight are only $3 (regularly $7 at the door).  Tickets are available at the following downtown stores:  A Step in Time, 5 Easy St; Bible Book Store, 314 S Main; Critters, 125 S Main; Just The Thing, 103 N Main; Southern Spirit Gallery, 102 S Main; and Stelia, 118 N Main.

Or stroll the popular Downtown Ghost Walk – if you dare!  A family friendly stroll starts at 7:15 p.m., and the adults only walk is at 8:30.  $10 for adults, $5 for students, kids 5 and under are free!  Meet on the steps of the old Salisbury Post Office, 130 W. Innes St.  (Ticket sales are cash only.  Reservations are recommended; ticket sales on the night of the walk are based on availability.  704-642-1734 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )  

Children will also find plenty to keep them busy.  There are moonbounces, face painting, Wacky Doo the Clown, Salisbury Symphony’s musical petting zoo, and more!  Plus, this is the perfect opportunity to find that special gift for Mom as downtown shops stay open late for your convenience.  

Downtown Salisbury, Inc. invites Moms, Dads and families to come downtown for Spring Night Out and enjoy the activities, extended shopping hours in our unique retail shops, and some of the finest dining available anywhere.  So, meet us Downtown for the best in springtime fun, and find out why 75 Shops & 15 Restaurants Create One Special Place!  For more information, contact Downtown Salisbury, Inc. at (704) 637-7814.

 A few weeks ago I received a call from Marshall Hurley. Marshall is an attorney in Greensboro and an amateur photographer. I use the term amateur only because he does not earn a living with his photography. He certainly could. Anyway, Marshall has several friends who will be descending on Salisbury on April 30^th to photograph our fair City. The outcome of their efforts will be a coffee table book that highlights Salisbury.

Part of the inspiration for this project comes from a Kenny Chesney concert. According to Marshall, Kenny has a song about hometowns. Before he does a concert in a town, he sends in folks to take photos of the places, people that make the town special. Those photos are displayed while he sings the song and you can probably figure out the reaction. So our new book will have a similar feel. It will show people and places that make us special. No shortage of material here…historic icons like the Depot, Rebecca at the Well, the Bell Tower, the Old English Cemetery... We have so many long standing businesses like Bernhardt Hardware, Haps, and the list goes on…  

This discussion made me think of the quality of some of the newer additions to downtown. I enjoy seeing kids at the Soda Fountain at Innes Street Drug or Frost Bites. Kids riding Champion the horse at Critters always bring a smile to my face (the video Bo rides his pony on you tube is a funny dog variation…). Seeing a kid show their parents their tile at the Cotton Mills Corner at Fisher and Church Streets is heartwarming. There are so many neat places and people in downtown, I am sure they will have a difficult time narrowing it down!

I have been asked to help with a list for the photographers. I would like very much to hear your thoughts. What are some of the less obvious places, businesses, people you would put in a coffee table book of Salisbury? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!   

Randy

When the Hemann family travels, it is often with dog in tow.  Our retriever/lab mix Sebastian is as much a part of the family as I am … Sebastian backpacks, camps, hikes, stays in vacation houses and even shops downtown.  Yes, I said shops.  My wife will attest that working with a person who has been in downtown development for 20+ years mean that when you travel, you must patronize other downtowns.

When Sebastian is traveling with us, he also spends time in other downtowns.  There have been some interesting situations created by his shopping because he is quite an adorable dog.  On one occasion we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Sebastian was decked out in a bandanna, looking as handsome as any golden retriever/lab could look.  We were in Downtown Blowing Rock and while the remainder of the Hemann crew shopped, I was able to lounge on a bench with Sebastian.  As you would expect, dozens of people stopped to pet Sebastian … not a problem.… However, one lady wearing bright red lipstick just had to kiss him on the snout.  Well, the next time the family moved to the next store and checked on us, my wife spotted the incriminating evidence of a smooch from a complete stranger on Sebastian’s snout!  While it was the pup who bore the evidence of another woman’s affection, it was I who received the evil look reserved for a scoundrel.  Luckily for me, when his tail started wagging, the look melted into adoration (for the pup, not me…).

On another occasion, a shop owner in Downtown Hendersonville, seeing me parked with pup outside her store, came out with a bowl of water in hand for the handsome fella (once again, the pup, not me…).

We are fortunate in Downtown Salisbury to have shops where dogs are welcome.  Several merchants have water bowls outside their stores every day and pack a supply of dog treats.  Several bring their dogs to work.  I hope you are as appreciative as I am for the kindness these merchants offer our pets!