John Redding

Following up on the commercial success of our community’s Christmas activities covered in last week’s column, I will begin this week with a discussion of commercial success in general and some areas that it is shining and some others where additional improvement is hopeful.

One measure of how our tourism and services businesses are fairing is the amount of food tax being collected. This figure has shown steady and substantial increases over the past few years. There could possibly be multiple factors contributing to this but the one obvious reason for this improvement is the promotional activity spurred by the efforts of the Appomattox Tourism Committee. Exposure of Appomattox via printed and broadcast media and events such as the anniversary of the surrender and Experience the Holidays keep us in the minds of potential visitors. Periodical artisan and craft markets also add to the attraction of Appomattox as a destination.

The number of functional eateries is another indicator of elevated activity. The fact that we continue to add eating establishments that can profitably operate is both a feeder of the above mentioned phenomena and a result of it.

Each time that a vacant commercial space is occupied by a tenant, we all benefit. Property owners who have invested in real estate receive a return on their investment which provides incentives for them to maintain the aesthetics of the venue which feeds other commercial activity.The sales or other tax revenue generated by these new businesses add to the public coffers that feed the infrastructure of our community. Furthermore, the added diversity of commercial venues increases the draw to shoppers from outside of our immediate community.

Recent new businesses that provide reasons to celebrate include Carmine’s Pizzeria on Church Street, the establishment of a restaurant by the Taco Wagon and the opening of Loose Shoe Too (more about them below) in Triangle Plaza, and the soon to open Burke’s Outlet in The Shoppes at Appomattox.

Areas that could be improved include the corridor along Confederate Boulevard and the downtown area. Large vacant facilities are currently detrimental to the overall environment but offer potential for future opportunity. The Downtown Revitalization Project is certainly a step in the right direction. One can only hope that successes mentioned above are contagious and will result in future improvements.

On Sunday, I was fortunate to be able to attend a “soft opening” of the Loose Shoe Too brewery in the location formerly occupied by Krikelkay. We welcome them as our newest Chamber member and wish them great success. If you are one that has been turned off by other craft breweries that produce intense, hoppy products, you should give them a try. They produce a variety of products that include something for even the light beer consumers. And, I might even add that a fresh brewed draft is a healthier alternative to a commercially mass-produced package product. Their grand opening is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 17. Once in operation, weekly trivia contests and music nights are planned.

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