DOWNTOWN
RECRUITING BUSINESSES
Main Street began to actively recruit businesses, and in six
months found 60 interested in making the move.
As of last year, subtracting businesses that have moved out
or whose owners have retired and adding the businesses that
have opened up, Main Street Fort Pierce’s record stands at
88 new businesses and 407 new jobs. The building vacancy
rate was 40 percent when Main Street began and is 8 percent
today. “The beauty of our downtown is that we are sitting
right on the water with plenty of room,” Tillman says.
“I always felt like we had people out there supporting us,”
Tillman says. “Even through the recession, they stood by us
and helped us keep going. I don’t really remember the bad
stuff. When I compare it to all the good things that happened,
anything bad seemed so small.”
What kept the downtown alive at all after Orange Blossom
38
Mall drew businesses and shoppers several miles west
was the county courthouse, Fort Pierce City Hall and the city
marina, she says.
FIESTA ON FRIDAYS
Bringing people back to the downtown was a challenge
first met by the invention of FridayFest, a monthly street
festival patterned after those in Orlando. Initiated by Tom
Kindred, the first Main Street manager, it dates from 1989.
“He jokes that they started it with his family as the only
attendees and a six pack of beer,” Tillman says.
A few years ago, Kindred recalled that after the first FridayFest,
a merchant came out as they were cleaning up and
said, “FridayFest really stunk.”
Today, the festival is the premiere event for drawing people
Doc Grober AnD
The MuDcATs
At the Lyric Theatre - Stuart, FL
Wednesday March 21ST
at 7p.m.
Tickets $35
www.lyrictheatre.com
or Box Office 772.286.7827
Orthopedic Surgeon, Doc Grober, an
enthusiastic jazz pianist brings his very popular
New Orleans Mudcats to the Treasure Coast
The Best in Dixieland Jazz
Join us for fun, laughter and good jazz
>>
ED DRONDOSKI
Main Street Manager Doris Tillman with her trademark smile stands by
the front door to the historic Platts-Backus House where Main Street now
has its offices. The door was given to famed Florida landscape artist A.E.
“Bean” Backus by Waldo Sexton of Vero Beach after Backus bought the
house. Sexton is known for his creative use of “found” items.
/www.lyrictheatre.com
/www.lyrictheatre.com
