Storefront Activation Grant Helps Fill Empty Downtown Storefront

Representatives from Main Street Willow Springs, Willow Springs Realty, H&M Ranch Store, and Simmons Bank gathered in downtown Willow Springs to celebrate the close of the sale of 125 E. Main Street. Formerly the Howell County News office from 2001 to 2019, the building has been unoccupied since December 2019. 

Main Street Willow Springs is a group dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the downtown area. The group applied for and received a Storefront Activation Grant designed to provide the funds to fill vacant storefronts with displays intended to inspire business owners with the possibilities the empty buildings could hold. 

Owned by Kim Rich of Willow Springs, 125 E. Main was the first building chosen by the Main Street group to pilot the storefront project. 

“I am grateful my building was chosen as the first participant in the Storefront Activation Grant for Main Street Willow Springs...The scenes they created to depict an upscale thrift or women's boutique were creative, including backdrops, mannequins clothed in fashionable outfits, and various accessories in the window shelves,” said Rich. 

The building’s new owner, Anna Mayberry of H&M Ranch Store, credits the storefront display with piquing her interest in purchasing the building. 

“I passed by multiple times, saw the display, and thought ‘that could be us.’ The [window] dressing really made the difference. It put an idea in my head,” Mayberry said.

The Main Street group dressed the window in July, and by September 4, Mayberry and Rich were closing on the sale. 

“I was surprised, though, at how quickly the grant helped move my building. It had been vacant for more than six months when the group put their first set of displays in the window...I couldn't be more impressed,” said Rich. 

As long as the funding holds out, Main Street Willow Springs will continue dressing vacant windows hoping to permanently fill the downtown area with bustling business. There has not been a decision about which storefront will be dressed next. 

The Storefront Activation grant is one of many irons in the fire for Main Street Willow Springs. The group is working with another organization called Community Matters which will provide training with experts to help the group develop a brand for Willow Springs. 

“Anybody who has a stake in the community is welcome (to the training),” Main Street board member Mary Jones said. 

Training and the presentation of expert opinions will take place in Willow Springs on September 23 and 24.