Cherokee Business Quarterly
Current Issue: Spring 2008
A business-to-business focused publication, Cherokee Business Quarterly (CBQ) is your business journal! Published quarterly, with a circulation of 10,000 copies, CBQ provides readers with key information, including finances, real estate, information technology, growth, human resources, business law and, development and communication, among other business related topics.
Revitalizing Downtown Woodstock
Women burgeoning into a promising future
By: Julie Brennan
It may surprise you to discover that, as one of the nation’s fastest growing cities, Downtown Woodstock is writing a new chapter in its history of growth and development. Encompassing both the trendy uniqueness city life has to offer and the quaintness of country living, the area continues its budding move into a destination for shoppers searching for great buys, a bit of history and the charm of southern hospitality.
Business owners aimed for downtown Woodstock many years ago, and remembrances of their efforts are still noticeable within the brick buildings and streetscapes that adorn the area. The trend of mixed-use, historic preservation and unique retail concepts is common today among suburban downtowns. “Downtown Woodstock, however, stares down the stereotype of the old commercial system that used to be robust in small town America,” stated Billy Peppers, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the Woodstock Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Women run Downtown Woodstock
In a recent study by the DDA of sixty downtown businesses, research confirmed that 73.5 percent of businesses were owned by women and minority entrepreneurs. “What’s even more staggering is that this trend is not new. A handful of these businesswomen have been in downtown for over a decade and over half have been here longer than five years,” said Peppers. While about 46 percent of small businesses in America are owned by women and minorities, Downtown Woodstock boasts an average that leads the trend in the Metro Atlanta area.
“I believe that the female-owned businesses in Woodstock play a major role in the economic health of the downtown district,” says Lynn Paterson at House & Garden Boutique. “All of the owners are very pro-active and determined to make Olde Towne Woodstock a shopping destination for Northwest Atlanta.”
Downtown stores are expanding to cater more to what the customer wants, delivering quality and creativity for every need. A walk along East Main Street, located across the area’s focal point, the Downtown City Park and Gazebo, perfectly illustrates Woodstock’s trend of business ownership by women. The Serene Bean, Tallulah, Whole Nine Yarns, Cara Christian Salon and Fox Tale Book Shoppe are owned and operated by women. The two remaining stores along the strip are Jonathan & Co. Fine Jewelry and Art, and Carney Photography, owned and operated by men.
Lynn Walker and Maggie Kolkana opened their first clothing store in downtown Woodstock in 1998. After moving to the busy Highway 92 corridor in 2001, Walker and Kolkana returned to downtown 2005. “You could say we came back home,” stated Walker, who, along with her husband David, now lives in the downtown’s highly showcased and sought after residential area – Woodstock Downtown, a Hedgewood community. Their upscale boutique, Tallulah, is a downtown clothing shoppers’ destination.
Debi Light recalled sitting down with her CPA and talking about her idea of opening a store in downtown Woodstock that would sell yarn and teach women of all ages how to knit and crochet. “His face was one of disbelief,” she said. The cautious accountant soon found out that downtown Woodstock was the right place to open a store. “There is a sense of community in the area – it’s as if people form relationships with each other that, perhaps, would not happen anywhere else,” added Light.
It is not surprising to see the increasing number of young entrepreneurs, sales people and business owners stopping by The Serene Bean to pick up their morning cup of coffee or bringing their lap tops to check their e-mails and do some work. “It (Serene Bean) provides a perfect place to get work done but also to stop and breathe – even if just for a while,” said Reid Trego, owner of Huntington Learning Center in Woodstock. “The downtown area is a friendly place.”
Lara Randall, owner of The Serene Bean, credits being located in downtown Woodstock with much of her success. “The place is charming and has its own personality, which provides a unique environment for our shop,” remarked Randall. “We are here early in the morning and able to see the town wake-up to a new day, if you will. There’s just something about that you just can’t beat!”
A Balancing Act
Between the hard work at home, the meticulous devotion to their companies and charitable work for others, downtown businesswomen are heavily involved in creating an atmosphere for success. It is not always easy, but the women of downtown Woodstock prove that being the boss is a hat that they can wear and wear well.
Christine Blight, owner of Christine’s Creations said that juggling tasks is hard. “We are still expected to take care of our families, cook, do laundry, take to and from school, etc., and work a full-time job.” Cheryl West of Seven Arrows Native American Art Gallery said that 50 hours a week is the norm for running a downtown business. Some service oriented businesses easily exceed that average. It all adds up to commitment, both at work and at home, to make it successfully.
Shopping and living in downtown
Parking has remained a challenge for area residents, visitors and merchants, and city leaders continue to look at options to improve the situation. A partnership with a downtown church to provide a community parking area has proven successful and provides the area some relief.
“It is hard at times to find a parking space, but it is not impossible,” stated frequent downtown shopper Ann Darby. “I have the same challenge when I visit the shops in Highlands (NC) and shopping areas in other towns. The value and experience of shopping in a charming area such as Downtown Woodstock is worth the wait when looking for a spot to park.”
Walking is encouraged and adds to the charm and ease of the downtown area. “It is rewarding to see folks walking the area, stopping by the stores, and truly enjoying what our businesses offer,” stated Betsy Decker, owner of Betsy’s on Main Street. “We enjoy the stability of businesses that have been in this area for many years and are excited to welcome new ones to our town.” In 2007, seven new businesses opened in downtown Woodstock – all, owned by women.
And the folks shopping in downtown are enjoying the area. “We hear it from our customers all the time – they love finding a bookstore downtown and are surprised by all the variety and uniqueness of the area,” said Jackie Tanase, who along with Karen Schwettman and Ellen Ward, own Fox Tale Book Shoppe.
“It’s time to give Downtown Woodstock a closer look; don’t just pass by and head to the mall,” said Kolkana. Customers have said they appreciate not having to drive to the mall and often describe the area as “a most charming town”.
It all comes down to worth
"Downtown's amazing progress is a testament to everyone who believed in the area and worked so hard to revitalize it," stated Peppers. “It’s a commitment to the success of a commercial area surrounded by history, and embedded in a culture business entrepreneurship and achievement.”
“Downtown Woodstock is growing and so are our businesses,” says Herb Priest, Jr., owner of Priest Home Furnishings, a company with over 40 years experience in downtown. “These ladies are business savvy; they enjoy what they do and make downtown better for everyone.”
A Desire to Succeed
In many ways, downtown Woodstock is a microcosm of the resurgence of downtown villages in suburban America. Even as the downturn in residential construction has caused a slowdown in the economy, commercial construction and the rate of entrepreneurship continues a steady upward pace nationally. And downtown Woodstock is clearly enjoying the benefits of a municipal redevelopment strategy focused on success.