VALDOSTA —
The Brown Bag Concert Series produced by Valdosta Main Street will begin again on Monday and last all week.
The event, held annually downtown at the historic Lowndes County Courthouse square, showcases local musical talent and offers workers a chance to relax during their lunch breaks.
Area eateries will have booths offering a variety of food and lunch items, and tables and chairs will be set up for attendees, but you might want to bring your own just in case.
And what, you may ask, does this have to do with business? Well, pretty much everything. A vital downtown atmosphere such as the one we have here is vital to the health of the entire business community. Downtown businesses are generally locally owned and operated, plus we have dozens of downtown residents in lofts enjoying a slice of metro life. The fact that not only is the concert series this week, but the Farm Days is held there every other Saturday and attracts a huge crowd, and this past weekend, the Cinco de Mayo festival was also held downtown.
Any time there is that much traffic attending events downtown, it benefits dozens and dozens of businesses. It creates an atmosphere that people want to be a part of. These events economically support the downtown area, and the Main Street folks should be applauded for all they do to set these up.
How lucky are we that we have such an incredible and healthy downtown area, with thriving businesses and exciting events? When a downtown declines, everything else usually follows, so count your blessings and go to the concerts this week!
Business Roundup
You’ll see a story about this business soon, but they’re opening tomorrow so I’ll go ahead and announce it. Dr. Brian Hickox from Valdosta is opening his own chiropractic practice at the corner of Forrest and Northside. He has an interesting story to tell and is very dedicated to his craft, so if you know him, stop by and wish him well.
The new restaurant being built where the Zaxby’s used to be on Baytree Road is going to be a Manny’s Sub Shop, and the groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for May 25. It’s a unique restaurant and one that we don’t currently have, with a pretty varied menu and a cool atmosphere.
The new Peg Legs restaurant at Exit 22 by the hotel is now officially open, offering a menu of traditional Southern items all day.
And it looks like the Wedge on Baytree has now officially opened, too. We’ve been waiting a while for this one as the sign’s been up for months. It’s in the strip center with Baytree Pizza where the pita place used to be.
Someone asked this week about the newly renovated building on North Ashley Street near the Ashley House. It looks gorgeous and is going to be the new home of CJB Industries, a local business.
The work on the former CVS location on North Ashley Street across from SGMC is to refurbish the building for Chancy Drugs. They will still have their locations in Hahira and Lake Park as well.
And if you missed last week’s column, the new Academy Sports sign is up on the property on Norman Drive where the store will be built, starting very soon, for a late fall opening. It looks like it will be the beginning of a new, large shopping area for the community, to augment the retailers we already have.
For parents with young children, don’t forget that the Youth Care at SGMC has moved to the former Ashley Street outpatient center. It used to be inside the main building where the outpatient services were, but due to construction issues, had to be moved. The new location is more convenient and has closer parking to the building too.
Again, for people who missed it, Larry’s Giant Subs on North Ashley in the Budd Plaza is now DJ’s American Subs. And also on North Ashley Street, the Carter’s Family restaurant is now closed.
Business
Downtown will have a new beat this week
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