THREE RIVERS AREA — Editor’s note: This is the first in a series on town squares in the Three Rivers area.
At one time, the courthouse square was the hub of the county. People not only took care of their legal business, but did some shopping and maybe stopped for lunch before returning to their cars. Today, many of the courthouse squares are struggling to survive. In this series of articles, each week will focus on a different courthouse square in the Three Rivers coverage area.
White County holds on to its roots by being above the national average in retaining downtown retail business.
“We are above the national average and have done better in this economy,” said Amy Burton, Main Street Searcy director. “Many businesses across the countryare going to strip malls.”
Burton said there are more retailers on the square than five years ago.
Still, Greg Geroy of Quattlebaum Music Center has witnessed many retailers leaving the square.
“We’ve lost tons of retail and gone to professional,” Geroy said. “You used to be able to make a living in 2,000 square feet, and now there are a lot of choices (for the consumer), and every day is a little harder.”
Quattlebaum Music Center has been on Arch Street for 45 years. Geroy and his wife, Vana, bought the business from her parents, Ivan and Frances Quattlebaum, 25 years ago.
“You have to re-identifyyourself,” Geroy said. “You have to find those niches to be a bigger player.”
Another anchor business that has been on the White County courthouse square is Sowell’s Furniture Inc. John M. and Lora Sowell started selling wooden ice boxes in 1945, and the business branched out into the furniture store that is run by Betty Mote and Nancy Hatfield, who are both daughters of the Sowells.
“I like being in the center of Searcy,” Mote said. “We’ve built up a name and reputation, and people are going to find us. It (downtown) is still a very friendly atmosphere, and you (the customer) get more attention in the shops.”
In addition to musical instruments and furniture, customers can get toys at The Toy Box that rival any large toystore, shop for the perfect piece of jewelry at Leslie Jewelers, then stop for lunch at Bobby’s Family Restaurant. And customers can get their prescriptions filled at Stotts Drug Store by third-generation pharmacist Nancy Showalter.
In the evening, shoppers can enjoy food and entertainment at the Center on the Square dinner theater.
Keeping the shopping dollars local is imperative for small towns to survive, Burton said.
“In this economy, I think people are more mindful that the businesses in Searcy are owned by their neighbors and their friends,” Burton said. “There is a higher percentage of your dollar that stays in the community if you shop locally.”
Some of the events that take place downtown are:
◊Trick-or-Treat on the Square, which is from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
◊Get Down Downtown Festival, which is set for Sept. 24 and 25, 2010
◊Santa Claus on the courthouse lawn beginning around Thanksgiving; schedule will be posted
◊Independent Historic Walking Tour; walking tour brochures are available at Main Street office on the third floor of Regions Bank, City Hall and through the White County Historical Society
For more information, call Burton at (501) 279-9007.
- jbrosius@ arkansasonline.com
Three Rivers, Pages 128 on 10/11/2009