Your Local Farmers Are Here!

The Reidsville Downtown Farmers' Market is open and will begin the season in their temporary location in the municipal parking lot across for the Library and the Police Department. They will move to their new home at Market Square just as soon as the park is completed in early summer.

All produce and products are grown or produced by your local farmer – “purchase-for-resale” produce or products is not allowed at this market.

AVAIABLE NOW:

Romaine Lettuce
Red Leaf Lettuce
Spinach
Turnip Greens
Swiss Chard
Spring Onions

KNOW WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM; SHOP YOU LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET!

The Reidsville Downtown Farmers' Market is open Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 6:00am - Noon

2009 Reidsville Downtown Cruise-Ins

submitted by Anita Wallace

The 2009 Reidsville Downtown Cruise Ins’ are held from 6:00 – 9:00 pm on the second Friday of each month through September 11th. Highlights include “cruising the strip” on the blocked off streets of historic downtown Reidsville and feature live television interviews with the cruisers by WGSR-Star 39 News, live musical entertainment, artists demonstrations, wine tastings as well as shopping in our quaint little shops and dining in our unique restaurants. Cruise Ins offer lots of free, family-oriented fun, music, food, and shopping.

We welcome vehicles 25 years and older, including Street Rods, Classics, Muscle Cars, trucks and highly modified late models. We do graciously ask you leave pooches, skateboards, and bicycles at home. Those who don’t want to cruise are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and watch all the fun. Imagine two downtown city blocks closed off with awesome show cars and trucks with hot cruising action. Our next Cruise-in is Friday night, May 8th. Scheduled to appear, “Young At Heart” bluegrass band. Make plans now to be a part of it!

If you have a question or comment pertaining to the Reidsville Downtown Cruise In event, please direct your email to us at rdc@ci.reidsville.nc.us or contact Diana Moran, RDC Coordinator, at 336.349.1045 or EZ Street Cruisers Car Club President, Robbin Miller at 336.349.8911.

We would like to extend a “BIG THANK YOU” to our sponsor, Smith-Stokes, from all our downtown Reidsville merchants and EZ Street Cruisers Car Club for making this and ALL our Cruise Ins possible.

Cruise on in to downtown Reidsville May 8th, 2009 from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm for our next scheduled cruise in event. See you there! No Rain Date…

3rd Annual Reidsville Downtown Shop & Cruise-In

Friday and Saturday, April 10 & 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., downtown shops and restaurants will be bustling with activity with several staying open Friday night until 9:00 p.m. during the Cruise In. Shops will be offering specials and new spring lines.

From 6-9 p.m. Friday night, the Reidsville Downtown Corp., Merchants Association and Smith Stokes will sponsor the 1st of 6 Reidsville Downtown Cruise Ins. Come join the EZ Street Cruisers Car Club for an exciting evening. Bring your cars 25 yrs. and older and park or cruise the downtown strip. And as always, WGSR-Star 39 News will broadcast live interviews with cruisers.

In addition, the Outreach Center is asking for food or monetary donations to keep their doors open. During this economic crisis, many have to seek the help of our local Outreach Center. Stop by the Mural Park Friday evening and speak with Clara Gunn and see what you can do to help out your neighbors.

Live music will be performed in the S.W. Market St. parking lot by “Veronica’s Secret” featuring vocals by Veronica Jones accompanied by Larry Johnson on keyboard and Ron Farris on guitar. A regular at many Downtown events, Veronica brings the stage alive with her soulful voice and always provides a musical variety that brings the crowd to their feet.

So come enjoy the food, music & fun! For more info on all the activities, call Diana Moran, Reidsville Downtown Corp. Coordinator at (336) 349-1045 or Robbin Miller with the EZ Street Cruisers Car Club at (336) 349-8911.

Beginning Thursday, March 12th, nighttime in Downtown Reidsville comes alive! Your Reidsville Downtown Merchants Association invites you to Thursdays after hours. Many of your downtown businesses will remain open until 8:00pm on Thursday evenings for your shopping convenience. There is no better way to spend those extra daylight hours than to stroll the sidewalks downtown, step in and have a meal, enjoy some shopping, take a class, try a new wine, explore our galleries, relax with friends over a cup of good coffee, visit your downtown library, see a movie and even buy paint to freshen up your house.

So much to do, so many ways to spend an evening downtown with

friends and family.

Here is a list of the participating businesses:
Rockingham Theatre

Backstreet Clothing

Everyday Art Gallery
Reidsville Sporting Arms

The Gallery

Darkedge Tattoo

Samples and More

Downtown Crafters Mall
Swann Paint

Hayes Carpet

The Backstreet Buzz Coffee House
Reidsville Bicycle

Cafe 99

Reidsville Public Library

Mr. Kones
Lucky City

Classic Toys

Settle Street Station

New Beginnings Boutique

We are sure to add to this list as the spring and summer evenings heat up! Please come out and support this effort to make shopping LOCAL even more convenient!!
Your downtown merchants thank you!

You are our stimulus package!

Your Downtown Restaurants: Great Food, Great Service

Café 99 is Now Open at Night!
Owner Dav Gerrells has extended the hours and menu offerings at Café 99, located at 128 S. Scales St. He has also redesigned the counter area to include ice cream service. Café 99 is now open all day from 10:00am – 9:00pm. New items include a roast beef wrap with tangy Chipotle sauce and western Dog with bacon, BBQ sauce and slaw. The new Lasagna Platter and a Grilled Chicken & Pasta Platter come with a salad and chive bread. Recognizing the impact that the current economy has had on families in our community, Dav has created a new 99 Cent Menu that includes your choice of soup, potato salad, pasta salad, grilled cheese sandwich, tuna salad sandwich, cole slaw and Jack Daniels baked beans. The 99 cents “Ice Cream Cone of the Day” or 2 delicious cookies will satisfy that sweet tooth.
Congratulations to Caferfest. Inc owner, Dav Gerrells for being awarded 2008 Small Business of the Year by the Reidsville Chamber of Commerce!!

The Backstreet Buzz Celebrates its First Year Anniversary!
Can you believe its been a year!! The Backstreet Buzz Coffee House, located at 234 SW Market St., celebrated their One Year Anniversary on Saturday, February 7th. Live music provided by “A Cup of Blues” was the evening’s entertainment. Owners David Glick and Linda Cook have created a menu that makes The Buzz one of the most unique restaurants in the region. You’ll find home baked muffins, scones, cookies and cakes. Salad and soup offerings are made fresh and change daily. Their wraps and panini sandwiches contain only the freshest ingredients. The sauces, salsas and dressing are all homemade and delicious. Barista David, can create any espresso coffee drink that you can imagine. And don’t forget the teas, smoothies and sodas also available at The Backstreet Buzz. Congratulations David and Linda on your 1st Anniversary!!

Short Sugar’s: 60 Years and Counting!!
Short Sugar’s is known internationally as having some the best barbeque there is. Countless food experts have said so, but I bet there’s not a soul in the entire region that doesn’t know that already! Short Sugar’s Two, located at 234 S. Scales St., is a charming lunch-counter style downtown diner that serves up great food and great service. Come by, say hello to the Overbys and treat yourself to a barbeque sandwich, a hotdog or any of the other mouthwatering items on their extensive menu.

Vickie’s Carolina Café is THE Classic Diner!
Remember that great little downtown diner you went to with you grandmother for a grilled cheese sandwich and a coke? Walking into Vickie’s Caroline Café, located at 224 Settle St, will bring back that memory every time. This is the classic diner. The food is always great but the service even better – fast and friendly. If you don’t like to being called “sweetie” or “hun”, this might not be the place for you. The café is open for breakfast (best omelets and pancakes ever!) and lunch (although the breakfast menu is available all day.) There is a fixed menu at the table but you’ll have to “check the board” for the daily offerings of meats, casseroles and vegetables. If its chicken casserole day, you better get there early, it always sells out! Go by and have a seat at the counter or a booth and let Vickie Rogers and her staff take care of you and make your day brighter.

Don’t forget about your locally owned downtown Reidsville restaurants the next time you dine out. Thank you.

Downtown Revitalization Gets a Boost from the NC Rural Center!

We are happy to announce that the City of Reidsville has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the NC Rural Center’s Economic Stimulus Grant Program. The purpose of the grant is to help cities undertake projects that would have a positive impact on the economy and help create programs or environments that might otherwise not be possible. They were especially interested in helping with downtown revitalization efforts. There are three key conditions to this grant. One is that they will not participate in projects that you already have going. Secondly, they want to see a program that is self sustaining (i.e. revolving loan program). Third, they’d like to see the local governments show investment in the programs and projects. The Reidsville City Council has demonstrated their support by appropriating additional funding for these priority projects: New streetscape on SW Market St and the 100 block of Settle St., downtown parking lot improvements beginning with lot across from Police Dept., enhance the appearance of the large wall facing Market Square with a mural (public input will be solicited for subject and design), target a vacant building to purchase, repair and “flip” for resale. This approach was used with the Bank of Reidsville building, resulting in over $1,000,000 of private investment. Proceeds from this program would be used to establish a revolving loan program for other such projects.

Special thanks go to Michael Pearce, Director of Community Development; City Manager, Kelly Almond and Rep. Nelson Cole for helping to secure this grant.

RDC's 2008 Main Street Champions Announced

The NC Main Street program annually recognizes the efforts of the dedicated volunteers contributing to the success of the local Main Street programs across our state. The Main Street Champion designation is meant to honor those persons who have made extraordinary contributions to their local downtowns. A certificate commemorating this special honor will be presented to a representative of the Reidsville Downtown Merchants Association (RDMA) at the awards dinner during the 2009 NC Main Street Annual Conference in Statesville, NC on Jan. 29, 2009.

Two and half years ago a committed, driven and progressive group of independent business owners came together to form yet another Downtown Merchants group. And yes, there have been several before. This one; however, was different. The group formed a bond not unlike a family. Their bi-monthly meetings follow a fellowship format including potlucks. With this bonding came the realization and commitment that they would support one another and their community with cross-promotions, fundraisers, event planning and execution and business recruitment just to name a few. These independent business owners support and volunteer for the annual fall festival and six cruise ins that bring several hundred participants and thousands of patrons downtown. When the local food bank was empty, they took on the responsibility to promote and fundraise to keep the doors open and many donated anonymously. Anita Wallace and Lyle Milligan, Reidsville Downtown Corp. board members, said it perfectly. “As our downtown merchants have grown, so has our merchant's association. The new merchants coming in see what working as a group can accomplish and that makes them want to jump in feet first running with the others.” “Their continued support of the downtown area not only helps them individually as businesses but helps our entire community as they lead the way by example of cooperation and leadership. The synergy developed by a committed group of people like the Reidsville Downtown Merchants Association is vital to a growing community.” So congratulations Reidsville Downtown Merchants Association for being chosen 2008 Main Street Champions!

Your Reidsville Downtown Merchants are Ready for the Holidays

This year, take the “hubbub” out of your holiday shopping. Come enjoy the beauty and the pace of downtown Reidsville. You are sure to find, not only the perfect gifts, but perhaps a one-of-a-kind treasure for that very special someone. Downtown Reidsville offers unique shops and boutiques where you can find antiques, clothing, handbags, jewelry, books, cards, coins, computers, software, bicycles, flowers, plants, gift baskets, wine and ale, designer fashions, fine imports, prints, sporting goods and arms, furniture, rugs, fine glassware and even vintage toys.

Shop the downtown art galleries for pottery, paintings, sculpture, art glass; handmade soaps, lotions, jewelry, clothing and accessories. Most of these items are crafted by artists living and working in our own community.

Hungry after all that shopping? You’ll find restaurants serving everything from hot dogs and BBQ to gourmet coffee and chocolates.

If it’s a service that you need this holiday season, you’ll find paint and supplies, flooring, banking, investment, accounting, insurance, legal, printing, interior design, transportation, welding, shoe repair, tech support for you computer glitches, salons and stylists to treat you from head to toe and give you a holiday tan too.

And after all that shopping, don’t forget to take in a first run movie at the restored, circa 1929, grand movie theatre!

Your helpful and friendly downtown business owners and staff offer the personal service you will not find anywhere else! Happy Holiday Shopping!