Page 11 - Brunswick Chamber - The Anchor
P. 11
ABOVE: From left are Michael Kaufman,
Courtney Prince, Tommy McGraw, and Brad Piazza.
That was around 2008, when the Great Recession
was stifling economic development. At that time, the
nonprofit Signature Squares was renovating the pocket
parks originally laid out in plans for the city drawn up in
the 18th century as a sort of mini-Savannah. The city’s
Main Street program and the Downtown Development
Authority had ensured sidewalks, crosswalks, medians,
and other aspects of the landscape were attractive.
People, aside from during
the workday, however, just “It’s a pretty
weren’t coming downtown exciting time
as much as the merchants for downtown
and city officials wanted. Brunswick.”
The downtown flight of
The historic downtown continues to transform into a place where people and businesses want to be. businesses for shopping malls in the 1990s combined
with the challenges of the recession left many
by Michael Hall
buildings empty.
“It’s a pretty exciting time for downtown Brunswick,” said The Downtown Development Authority then started
McGraw, who is reimagining the old Kress Department Store First Fridays. The first Friday of each month became a
building at 1505 Newcastle Street as 20,000 square feet of showcase of the few shops and restaurants downtown.
mixed-use space that will include apartments, retail or office Stores stayed open late and provided light refreshments.
space, and a rooftop restaurant. “When I was at Glynn Academy, Galleries opened exhibits on First Fridays. The Historic
there was pretty much just Fox’s Pizza and Hungry Hannah’s.” Ritz Theater stayed open late and showed off its charm.
Brunswick-Golden Isles Community Magazine • The Anchor • BrunswickGoldenislesChamber.com 11
