Derry residents need to come on down to our downtown and do some shopping while your there. With many shops,restaurants and the Arts-our downtown needs you more than ever!
We are fortunate enough in this town to have a wonderful downtown and we collectively need to make sure its a vibrant and exciting downtown to be in. As the weather gets nicer and we shake off the winter cabin fever. I ask each and everyone that resides in Derry to please come down and do some shopping. We have some really nice shops here as well that will amaze you.
Today, as I do my daily walk around the block I happened to stop at POLES APART on 5 West Broadway to speak with the owners Marylee and Tom. Two very nice people with quite the unique shop. If you are looking for a unique gift for that special someone-definitely get yourself down to this store! All kinds of American Crafts, Home Accessories, Furniture, Jewelry and gifts that you will not find anywhere else around here.
Marylee and Tom tell me that they get customers from Londonderry, Chester and Windham but very little from the Derry residents! Marylee who grew up in this town says she wishes more Derry residents would find her shop. She has very fond memories of when many residents came to shop the downtown quite a bit. Today there are many big box stores and shopping malls where one can shop, however I will tell you right now that Poles Apart has that niche product that no mall has. Please come down and support the businesses and families that live and work right here in Derry.
Check out thier website: www.PolesApartGifts.com
Poles Apart hours are Mon-Wed 10am-5pm, Thurs & Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10-5 and Sun 9-2pm
I spoke with both owners to find out if they would be interested in forming a group of owners that will brainstorm in making our downtown work. They both said they would very much like to participate.
If Manchester can do wonders for their Downtown
If Nashua can do wonders for their Downtown
If Concord can do wonders for their Downtown
Then Derry CAN DO WONDERS FOR OUR DOWNTOWN! It starts with us! Support Our Downtown Businesses and lets begin today!
If anyone has any feedback please leave a comment
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6 comments:
My favorite downtown businesses:
Mary Ann's...Rigatoni's....CK is very underated...the costume shop has anything you's possibly want in costumes....The Met is awesome for 2 to 6 year olds....The Depot for finer dining...The Firehouse for good value and atmosphere....Blackberry's for that last minute dessert....and I've had a very good experience at the trophy shop.....WE"VE GOT THE FOUNDATION OF A GREAT DRAW --- LET'S SUPPORT THEM!!!
....Any other reviews on some other businesses would be appreciated.....!!!!!
5:53,
Yes I intend to write about alot more of the businesses in the downtown. In the meantime, If anyone else wants to chime in on the experiences of shopping downtown or even ideas of what you would like to see or a store that would make you want to come shop then by all means, please write away.
I have been to all the restaurants downtown and some of the other businesses as well. I strongly encourage everyone to get out on one of the nicer days now that Spring has arrived, and take a walk downtown. Stop in and visit some of the businesses. It doesn't cost anything to look around, and you may be surprised at the nice things you can buy.
I am also providing a list I copied from Intown Manchester's website that includes what they do to promote/improve downtown Manchester. While we may not have the resources to do all this, and some won't apply to our downtown, it provides some ideas for discussion.
* Manchester Magnifique - Intown Manchester's new beautificationcontest, Manchester Magnifique, is designed to recognize properties within downtown Manchester that have made a special effort to look attractive using flowers and landscape enhancements. more info
* Maintenance and Beautification - Intown Manchester provides periodic mechanized sweeping and litter removal service for sidewalks and alleys, graffiti, flowers, trees, millyard revitalization... more info
* Building Improvement Program - Since 1997 the Building Improvement Program, sometimes known as the Facade Program, has served as an effective catalyst for commercial redevelopment in downtown Manchester. Funded by the City of Manchester CDBG funds, and administered by Intown Manchester, the Building Improvement Program provides matching grants for building improvements. more info
* Retail Development & Business Support - The Downtown Retail Development Committee (DRDC) represents storefront business owners in downtown Manchester. The group, coordinated by Intown, has been meeting periodically for several years, and it has a singular purpose: to increase business activity and profitability in the downtown. more info
* Residential Development - In 2004, construction for 200 apartment units at Manchester Place began. This is the first major residential development to be constructed in downtown Manchester in over 30 years, and it indicates a return to vibrancy in the Central Business District. 200 condominiums near the river are scheduled by 2006, with more residential opportunities on the horizon. more info
* Promotional Activities - Intown Manchester designs and implements marketing plans that include the design and production of: The Taste of Downtown Manchester, street banners, quarterly newsletters, bi-weekly e-newsletters, Downtown Maps & Guides, Downtown Dining Guides, and a website dedicated to promoting business and activities happening downtown. more info
* Summer Music Festival - A series designed to provide free entertainment for the residents of Manchester. The festival consists of 3 months of daily noontime performances in varied locations downtown and 5 Thursday night performances in Veterans Park... more info
* Festival and Street Event Support - Intown Manchester supports and encourages outdoor venues that are free to the public. We provide technical assistance, promotional expertise, and limited underwriting to community groups wishing to host downtown festivals and street events. more info
Tom Seidell
61 Scobie Pond Road
Tom,
Some excellent ideas coming from Intown Manchester that maybe we could use as well. I think the first one is the store owners group getting together and discussing ways to make downtown better!! These store owners are the "front line" and backbone to a successful downtown. I like alot of these ideas! Thanks for sharing
I've lived in Derry for almost 10 years now and owned a small gift shop in Colorado for years. I try to support local businesses where I can because I know how hard it is. I've been to Poles Apart and it's a wonderful gift shop; probably more suited for Portsmouth or Newburyport but how nice to finally have a shop like this in town. Wisteria is another new flower/gift shop located on the Main Street that has some cute items as well. We need more shops like this on the Main Street but if we don't support the shops that are already there I can't see new shops wanting to move in. Big Boys Bagels came and went in 8 months yet his place of establishment in Plaistow has been open for 8 years. I was talking with the owner and he said in Plaistow he knew most of the town workers but in Derry not a 1 had been in and I'm sure if I asked around in other establishments the same would be true. I watched some of the pre-election interviews of the candidates. I believe Main Street came up as a subject and one candidate made the statement “I never think to shop in town” and concluded that maybe the downtown area should consist of office space. (Hey, I know; how about 55 and over housing!) Another basically said that he wasn’t willing to take on Main Street as a project; Derry can’t be helping everyone out. Well, how sad is that. I know from being a shop owner that the first place communities look when they need donations for everything from schools, to libraries, to non-profits and every other community event is those same shops that you didn’t think to shop in nor want to help out. I hear the buzz words; "Community for a Better Derry", "Economic Development". If you want someplace to start maybe you should start at the beginning. New Hampshire has a wonderful Main Street Community Program? Why isn’t Derry a part of that? A hustling and bustling main street can only create opportunities for the town. You talk the talk guys, now walk the walk.
Dear 4:17,
We were once in the Main Street program about 5-6 years ago. I don't remember why we gave it up? Anyway, its time to see about starting one up again. It will take some commitment from citizens that want to participate. I too did not like the fact that some want nothing to do with downtown businesses. I believe its because they want something to complain about.
Someone once said: you'r either part of the problem or part of the solution. Which one will you be!
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