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Bill and Susan Davis of Reidsville Bicycle have a running joke between them. Whenever they are swept away by the high level of customer service they receive at a downtown Reidsville store, one looks at the other and facetiously says, “Just like New Jersey.”

Relating examples earned Bill Davis laughs from the crowd of 88 people who came out in cold pouring rain to a Friends of Downtown meeting on  Feb. 28. Besides a delicious free breakfast at Cafe 99, the group shared information and ideas on making downtown Reidsville a better place to gather and shop.

A city without a heart is sad. Shuttered storefronts and dilapidated buildings spread like a cancer from the center, growing outward until a town is dead. Fortunately, the Reidsville Downtown Corporation, Friends of Downtown, and the City Council are working to ensure Reidsville is not a victim of urban blight.

To begin the breakfast meeting, City Manager Kelly Almond gave a report on downtown projects that are underway. They include the Market Square project, a park that will house the Farmer’s Market and performing arts. Market Square is under construction and is expected to be completed  in June with a formal dedication in late summer.

There is a streetscape project planned to start in late spring along Settle and Southwest Market streets that will include trees, decorative lighting, brick borders along the sidewalks, and benches.

 The city has purchased the parking lot on Southwest Market beside the Backstreet Buzz Coffee House and is planning improvements.

In addition, the traffic circle will undergo improvements to make it safer and more decorative.

The meeting went a little Mayberry when Almond explained that “Peanut got hit on his motor scooter,” and the circle will be modified so traffic on Scales Street is not able to shoot straight across. It made me wish I lived downtown and knew Peanut. The crosswalks at Gilmer and Scales street will be upgraded with stamped asphalt. 

Tammy Spencer, the director of Economic Development and the Main Street Manager, explained the many facets of her two positions. She used a European term “place making” to describe much of what she tries to accomplish. She defined it as “building on assets and creative innovations.”

Spencer said much of what Reidsville is doing is “quality-of-life projects.” She also said Reidsville has a “branding study” underway that is 60-70 percent  complete that will “define Reidsville’s unique characteristics” and “unify logos and taglines.”  

David Lillard, a Reidsville Downtown Corporation board member, talked about the visions of the organization. Reidsville Downtown Corporation awards facade improvement grants and has been instrumental in providing wi-fi throughout downtown. They also are working with the Main Street program to revitalize downtown by preserving historic buildings.

An example of successful historic preservation is the City of Reidsville’s purchase of the “Bank Building,” built in 1894. The building is on South Scales Street at the traffic circle. The city saved the building by putting on a new roof. A developer from Raleigh bought the building and is turning it into condos, a restaurant, and retail and office space. The exterior will be preserved and the interior modernized. 

The Reidsville Downtown Corporation needs volunteers for the four committees established to improve downtown. The committees are organization, promotions, design, and economic restructuring.

Of course, one of the most important things you can do is to shop at local stores. Beginning March 12, most downtown merchants will remain open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

Teresa Phillips, owner of Everyday Art, addressed the crowd at the meeting: “You are our economic stimulus package. We can’t exist without you.” 

Joni Carter lives in the Bethany community. Contact her at writetojonicarter@gmail.com