DOWNTOWN
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ED DRONDOSKI
the menu for the day, what’s sold out, and what was added to
the day’s list of dishes. They also use Facebook.
Patricia Scott, who grew up in Fort Pierce, opened Whimsy
in the former White’s Bait and Tackle store on North Second
Street in February after White’s moved to a new building on
U.S. 1. For her, it was a matter of finding the location before
she even knew what she wanted to put there. “I just loved the
building,” she said.
She also loved Whimsy, an unusual women’s boutique out
in Salt Lake City, and it seemed natural to ask for a franchise.
“There were things that were similar about their location
and ours that made me think it would work here,” she said.
Scott said she also wanted to create jobs; she has employed
six women.
“This whole year has been a learning experience for me,”
she said. “We’re doing well, and I hope to build on whatever
opportunities we are given.”
ART GALORE
Downtown is also a haven for artists, with the new Art
Mundo operating from the former Sun Trust bank, now
called Artbank. The new Gertrude Walker Gallery at the
Renaissance on the waterfront features the work of Highwayman
artist Charles Walker and others.
The historic area has the Backus Museum and Gallery,
which has an expansion in the works, several smaller galleries
and shops catering to artists, as well as a monthly artwalk
to visit participating galleries. Main Street hosts a plein-air
event once or twice a year where artists can paint outdoors
and then sell their works.
Anytime Fitness opened in the fall of 2009, in the Artbank,
giving downtown workers their own place to work out. And
Dale’s BBQ showed its faith in downtown by opening on
Second Street.
While some space has gone vacant, downtown retail and office
space is still renting well, said long-time Realtor Pat Murphy.
“There’s not a huge amount of vacancy down there,” he
said. “I would say rents are down a little over last year but
they’ve probably stabilized.”
He said rents are running around $10 to $20 per square
foot, depending on location, size, visibility and other things.
Good times
begin at Roy’s!
We have
the largest
wine
selection
on the
Treasure
Coast.
Visit our Boozgeois Saloon!
(772) 461-3097 | Fax (772) 461-3587
720 South US 1 | Fort Pierce, FL 34950
email: keith@winokeith.com
www.roysliquors.com
>>
Patricia Scott opened Whimsy, an unusual women’s boutique, on North
Second Street a year ago.
/www.roysliquors.com
link