April 2009
www.uptownshelby.org
WHAT’S UPtown
Upcoming Events
Sister City Concert Band Concert: Court Square
News from Uptown Shelby Association
2009
April 19 3:00 P.M.
New Businesses Choose Uptown Shelby
If we listen to the news and accepted wisdom, we might not expect to see new businesses opening up or existing business operations continuing to thrive. out the homestyle setting with pillows, placemats, and hangings. And Suzy Chanthaboury has recently launched WWW.SUZYREALTY.COM from an office suite at 221-3 Lafayette However, there are cases here in Uptown Shelby where some local operations Street in Uptown. After operating from a have been launched or have continued to base in Charlotte for some time Suzy has grow. There are good examples in Shelby come to Shelby to explore new challenges after hearing about the city from friends of folks with skill and determination to make a go of their dreams in tougher eco- over the years. She is a broker and Realtor licensed in NC, SC and GA. nomic times. Ann Finnigan has also chosen Uptown JoAn Hannah is the newest merchant to Shelby for her new Country Heart shop settle into an Uptown location when she relocated her Simply Charming shop from slated to open on May 9th at 14 West Spartanburg to her hometown in Shelby. Marion Street, facing Court Square. Ms. Finnigan had operated a shop in the Simply Charming is located at 233 East Hampton Roads region of Virginia before Graham Street and features several room she moved to Shelby a few years ago. vignettes decorated with Ms. Hannah’s Country Heart will feature a selection of hand-painted gifts and home goods from her own studio. Items run the gamut from antiques, collectibles, home décor items and primate style art. The formal opening greeting cards to framed paintings, plaques, trays, ornaments, china and glass day is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th. ware. An exclusive line of textiles rounds
April 24 8:00 P.M. Wachovia Movies a la Mode Kung Fu Panda, Behind Chamber of Commerce. April 25
Art On The Square & MerryGo-Round Festival, plus Foothills Farmers Market
5:30 to 8:30 P.M. Alive After Five Contagious Blues June 18 5:30 to 8:30 P.M. Alive After Five Steep Canyon Rangers July 16 5:30 to 8:30 P.M. Alive After Five Caribbean Cowboys August 20 5:30 to 8:30 P.M. Alive After Five Cottonmouth September 17 5:30 to 8:30 P.M. Alive After Five Big Sam
May 21
Uptown’s Events Now on Facebook
The brave new world of “social media” has come to be a part of the tool kit used to market Uptown Shelby’s events to new audiences. Facebook has rapidly become a great way to quickly get out word about events and new projects, and not just to trendy teenagers. Go to www.facebook.com and search for Uptown Shelby Association, or go to www.uptownshelby.org and click on the blue Facebook icon to see pictures and event listings. You can create your own profile and link with the site as a fan and even arrange for automatic updates.
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W H AT ’ S U P t ow n
Right now the world seems alive with color, and nature’s palette is even livelier than the fall can sometimes be. Instead of snow flurries we have lots of activity with everyone wanting to break out of their winter doldrum . It’s especially gratifying to see that spring is bringing another set of business openings to Uptown Shelby, and it seems that Uptown continues to be the location of choice for several folks. Whether we’re talking about Joan Hannah’s hand painted lines of accents for the home at Simply Charming, or the traditional home décor items at Ann Finnigan’s Country Heart (due to open in early May), some folks just know this is the place to be. The nicest thing is that there are others in the area who are already working on business plans for retail and food businesses. Some are innovative and will enrich the mix we already have. And don’t forget to help promote our annual events. Every person who comes Uptown is a poExecutive Director Wade Nichols
Director’s Notes Uptown’s Growth Continues
tential new customer for the businesses here in the district.
Best regards,
Wade Nichols Create A Buzz with Smaller Holidays
Looking for a good hook for marketing your menu or a new line of merchandise. Think about significant but small holidays, or a national observance to advertise something special. Here are just a few: • • • • Earth Day, April 22—Special salads or green shirts Cinco de Mayo, May 5th—All things Mexican Memorial Day, May 25th—Family fun, remembrance Flag Day, June 14th —Apple pie, flags, ice cream, etc.
April 19th Concert On Square
Shelby’s international sister city, Jinotega, will be much closer on Sunday April 19th at 3:00 p.m. when the Jinotega Band School concert band serenades Uptown with classics and popular songs from both the US and their homeland. Join us at the Lafayette Street side of Court Square for a spirited free concert that presents a new sound for our ears. The Band School in Jinotega provides education around the music curriculum and is a source of pride among local citizens. The band will also play at Cleveland Community College on the 21st.
And that’s just the more obvious holidays. Perhaps a barbecue special can be staged around observance of National Pig Day, March 1st. Or what can you do but smile when you learn that September 12th is National Chocolate Milk Shake Day. Give Uptown a call with ideas.
WildFire Connections Reminder Don’t forget! Wachovia Movies a la Mode returns on April 24th at 8 P.M.
Uptown Shelby Association, Inc. (211 South Trade Street) P. O. Box 2042 Shelby, NC 28151
Free WiFi service is now up and running on a reliable basis for Uptown Shelby. However, we would like to remind those who work Uptown that it is system that is mostly aimed at outdoor users. Some users who are seated by large windows may be able to gain easy access from indoors. If you or a customer is unable to find the WildFire connection for WIFi service, please ask for a cd for new users from the Uptown Shelby Association office.
Phone: 704.484.3100 Fax: 704.484.3934