Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting Local Businesses – Uptown Roxboro Group
A double rainbow provides a beautiful backdrop over Court Street in Uptown Roxboro. By Dwayne Reaves (@dwaynereaves)
Visitors to Uptown Roxboro are treated to an array of local businesses, nonprofits, restaurants, and parks. For the past 30 years, Uptown Roxboro Group (URG) has sought to attract, retain, and support those entities.
A stroll down Main Street means a chance to grab lunch at Cole’s Pharmacy, Incorrigible Cafe, Depot Southern Bistro, or The Butcher’s Daughter Market and Deli. When the weather permits, a carry-out lunch can be enjoyed in the Roxboro Savings Centennial Pocket Park, at Merritt Commons, or in the city park across from the Person County Public Library. Delicious desserts are available from Doodle Crumbs and Hopper’s Poppers; a latte, espresso, or cappuccino can be grabbed at Cuppa Joe or OD on Coffee. Visitors can shop at Cry Freedom Missions, Nerdibles, Carol’s Collectibles, or An Artist’s Emporium. Later in the day, Uptown visitors can gather with friends for a beer at 1792 Beer Company or Black Creek Brewery. The Kirby Cultural Arts Complex offers an art gallery, learning studios, and several live performances each year. There is no shortage of ways to enjoy Uptown.
According to Executive Director April Spencer, Uptown Roxboro Group (URG) “exists to draw attention to our Uptown corridor – the businesses, opportunities, people, and activities available at every turn and within a few blocks’ walking distance. We want to shine a spotlight on all that our Main Street community has to offer, and we strive to assist our small businesses in their endeavors for longevity and growth. A thriving Uptown district is vital to the success and growth of not only Roxboro, but Person County as a whole.”
Since 1995, this group of civic-minded Personians has been focused on “making Uptown Roxboro the best version of itself at any given time,” Spencer said. “We try to interact with the community in a way that draws people to Uptown and its businesses. We strive for vacant spaces to be leased and for our small businesses to thrive. We provide opportunities for businesses to stay open later during events in which they can attain some foot traffic they might not have otherwise had. We are always working towards more cooperation between businesses and building that community relationship.”
Those opportunities for the city’s small businesses to capitalize on Uptown traffic include events like food truck rodeos and school supply drives, along with collaborative events such as Cruise-Ins for antique car enthusiasts and Jingle on Main, the annual Christmas celebration held on Main Street.
URG is a quasi-program, so, “our non-profit is partially supported by the city,” Spencer explained. She said, “technically,” she is employed by the City of Roxboro to administer and oversee the group’s Main Street program. Spencer provided information from the website, www.ncmainstreetandplanning.com/, which explains that, “The Main Street Approach is rooted in a commitment to broad-based community engagement, a holistic understanding of the factors that impact the quality of life in a community, and strategic focus on the core principles of downtown and neighborhood revitalization: Economic Vitality, Design, Promotion, and Organization.” The Main Street program also focuses on historic preservation, including the many historic buildings in Uptown.
Historic preservation is aided by façade grant opportunities, which provide funds to update or enhance buildings in the city. The program also offers other business grant opportunities, free training opportunities, assistance with design, marketing, and promotion, and assistance with finding a location for a new business, Spencer explained.
“We include the businesses as often as we can during events, and have plans this year to offer more activities focusing on our Uptown businesses and have some shopping passport/Bingo card plans in 2025 to get more dollars spent in our Uptown businesses,’ she said.
The URG director said the group has a “great relationship with the city and City Council. We get some funding annually from the city, but they also get to review our work plan, and we do a quarterly report to council so they remain up to speed about what is going on with Uptown Roxboro and Main Street.”
Spencer said, “Uptown is the heart of Person County. This is the perfect place to meet people; get out and enjoy a variety of activities within walking distance; a place to find ways to get involved; a way to see government at work, and be part of the community. A thriving Uptown/Downtown is important for attracting industries as well.”
Spencer said that URG has nominated a Main Street Champion almost every year since 2003. There will be a Main Street Champion reception as part of the group’s 30th Anniversary Celebration in June, where it will honor past Main Street Champions, as well as the 2025 recipient.
Over the past few years, URG’s Main Street Champions have included Zack Wynne and Kyle James (1792 Beer Co.), Sherry Clayton, Beth Townsend of Animal Protection Society of Person County, and Dr. Claudia Berryhill. The first Champion was Merilyn Newell (prior to her serving as Mayor of Roxboro). The 2025 Main Street Champion is Larry Cole of Furniture Mart.
Each year, the Champions are selected for various reasons, with the most important criteria being their commitment and dedication to Uptown Roxboro in various forms – volunteering, supporting URG efforts, helping with projects, serving on the board or committees, and “always being ready to pitch in and give of their time and talents (and sometimes dollars) to assist us in our mission,” said Spencer.
When asked about the most rewarding aspect of her job, she said, “Seeing people enjoying Uptown Roxboro – people on the sidewalks, shopping, dining, etc., and it’s also pretty nice when we get comments about how great Uptown looks and how far it has come over the past years.”
“Main Street is economic development, at its core,” said Spencer. And she is proud of the three-decade-long commitment to make Roxboro a thriving Main Street Community.
105 South Lamar Street
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336) 322-6019
UptownRoxboro.com
