(MURFREESBORO) Main Street Murfreesboro will kick off its 35th anniversary at its annual meeting at 11:30AM this coming Tuesday morning at the Carriage Lane Inn, 337 E. Burton Street.
Those interested in attending the luncheon must RSVP to Main Street's office manager, Kathy Duke, by Feb. 20. Either call at 615-895-1887 or email at Kathy@downtownmurfreesboro.com. Cost for the luncheon is $25 per person, and attendees pay at the door.
At the meeting, Main Street's 2020 board members will be elected. Slated to take over as chair is Randy Caldwell, president of Ragan-Smith. Main Street will also bestow its three annual awards.
"I am excited to start our year celebrating the past 35 years of Main Street and highlighting the impact this organization has made on our historic downtown," said Executive Director Sarah Callender. "I am also thrilled to honor worthy businesses and individuals who have contributed in unique ways to make our downtown community better in 2019. I look forward to the plans our 2020 Main Street board and committees are making to focus on the economic impact and promotion of our historic downtown as the heart of our community this coming year."
The Main Street Program is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center and follows the tenets of that program. Main Street capitalizes on the unique character of the courthouse square and the surrounding business district with the goal of transforming it into the cultural, social, professional and retail center of Rutherford County, in essence, the hub of community life.
Awards
Downtown Design Award for 527 N. Maple St. Building owners are Roger and Kimberly Hopkins.
RK Urban Development LLC is a Murfreesboro-based developer and investor in office and residential real estate. As its name implies, the company focuses exclusively on creating high-quality workspaces and residential homes in the urban core of cities like Murfreesboro, Nashville and select markets in East Tennessee. In Murfreesboro, examples of its projects include the redevelopment of the 6,000-square-foot former telephone company office and medical clinic at 527 North Maple Street, the renovation of high-end houses in and around the downtown historic district, the construction of new houses in an older downtown neighborhood to reflect the lifestyle of urban living, and the purchase and renovation of houses for the company's rental portfolio. Projects outside Murfreesboro include the partial redevelopment of an urban neighborhood with the construction of new single-family homes, the up-to-date renovation of a 1970s vintage apartment community, and the purchase and renovation of a large 1920s-era house and related structures in another downtown historic district.
Downtown Business Award to Garage Barre + Bike. The owners are Lacey Garrett & Kirby Dudley
Garage Barre + Bike was created by Lacey Garrett and Kirby Dudley at a kitchen table on a napkin during an ice storm in 2016. They both shared a love for fitness but recognized that most boutique fitness studios catered to clients with already perfect bodies, deep pockets and the right designer leggings. They decided to create a barre studio (a low-impact, high-intensity workout that incorporates elements of Pilates, yoga, ballet and functional movements at a ballet barre and enhances strength, balance and flexibility). Their studio would welcome all sizes, shapes, ages, fitness levels and backgrounds, and they would create community, not competition, and value strong over skinny. The studio started with 10 classes a week for five clients per class. They met in Lacey's garage, redecorated in pink and only advertised on social media. In less than six weeks, they had to expand and rented a space at The Warehouse, where they grew their business for a year. In July 2017, they moved to Maple Street on the Murfreesboro Square, painted it their trademark pink color, and eventually brought more than 5,000 client visits to their studio and to the square every month to work out and then frequent local shops and restaurants. In May 2019, they expanded and moved to the corner of Church and Vine, adding indoor cycling and offering 75 classes per week. Lacey, Kirby and their husbands renovated and updated the building's interior and created one of the first Instagrammable murals in the Boro featuring shades of their signature pink stripes. This has become a popular photo stop for the community's social media posts. Their vision, to build an inclusive community that provides a sense of belonging, has come to life and can be seen every day, bringing fun, energy, economic growth and vitality to the Square.
Doug Young Downtown Leadership Award to Brian Robertson
Brian Robertson exemplifies the Main Street board member at his or her best. During Brian's service as board chair, executive board member and Main Street board member, his commitment to excellence and his appreciation for the importance of community helped the Main Street program grow stronger. We thank him for his years of service, but more importantly, we thank him for caring about the downtown community and showing what can be accomplished through integrity, compassion, professionalism and enthusiasm.
