Main Street Renaissance Continued...

This is a continuation of an article posted earlier this year. Before reading this article please read part one here.

Main Street has been a commercial desert in the past decade, only to rebound in recent years with the addition of many new amenities. Main Street has added Silk City Coffee, an independent coffee shop, many new boutique clothing stores, and now something exciting is brewing. Across the vista we see a new horizon; a brewery has opened up the street, and now a brewery will open right off Main Street.

Labyrinth Brewing Company opened 1/4 mile from Main Street on Forest Street on August 25th in a former Cheney Mill. Labyrinth is know for their own small batch brewing. On opening day, there was a food truck and a line out the door. The brick interior is beautifully complimented by rustic furniture, dark wood, and live edge wood counter-top. 

White Porch Brewing will open a taproom on Purcell Place in the long vacant Jock and Jam Cafe. The previously abandoned space will be transformed into a brewery. The location is perfect for grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many great restaurants on Main Street, then going to grab a drink. 

Another highlight to Main Street is the new Walia Ethiopian Cuisine, located in the former Ronak space. Walia joins Sol De Borinquen Bakery Jr, T Mobile, Terriyaki Box, Smoke Zone, along with the massive Accra Mall, which anchors the block of stores.

Johnson's Seafood Company has also been added to the smorgasbord of flavors on Main Street.  Johnson's opened in the former Smoke Not Just BBQ space near the top of Main Street. Johnson's joins neighbor Center Perk, and flanks the block with the now-vacant Catsup and Mustard. 

Some new clothing stores have opened recently, Found Company opened their artisan-made clothing shop in the former Young-At-Art space across from White Porch's future home. Eleganza Moda opened their lingere/underwear store, and after much consideration by the town, has put their sign on the building. Another recent addition is Upstyle, a make-up bar which took over half of Silk City Antiques, who downsized but remain open. 

The Bistro On Main has added experimental dining to their Main Street restaurant. The concept is currently in the parking against Main Street, separated from the street by concrete planters, cloth half walls, and the asphalt has been cover by a collage of multi-colored teak tiles. The concept is a collaboration between the town and the Bistro On Main, and will last through the first week of October. If the concept is deemed a success and other restaurants show interest in hosting the dining, it will be expanded in the spring. Read more about it here.

Main Street recently lost a few businesses as well. 41 Closets, a consignment store, closed this summer after a lengthy store closing. The storefront is now under construction. Touch By J By Jeicoby Salon will expand into the space and add a day spa to their extensive list of services. Another recent loss was the legendary Catsup And Mustard. Castup and Mustard was the last remaining Corey Wry restaurant, it closed on September 3rd, a sign on the door announces a new owner, but as of September 27th, no work appears to be done, and a 'Gold Coast Business Realty' sign hangs in the window. Read more about Catsup and Mustard's closure here. East-West Bridal has also recently closed, the store was empty late last week.

The former East-West space will be remodeled in the coming weeks. The former Arthur Drug/Lion's Heart Fitness building will soon be painted. Many exciting things happening on Main Street, keep your eye out for further development. 

Jean-Luc Dube

​​Founder of The Manchester Scoop and a full-time Architecture student at UHart with an affinity for business news.