Best of luck to Mr. Barbee in pulling this off.Some people may see a farmers market as nothing more than local growers selling produce or may consider old buildings as something standing in the way of modern structures they think are necessary for progress.
Not Josh Barbee, director of Main Street Council Bluffs.
To him, a farmers market can help a community in many ways, which is why he’s so excited about Thursday’s initial market in the 100 block of West Broadway.
“A farmers market is a signature event, a flagship event. Every Main Street Community has a signature event, and I want ours to be the farmer’s market.”
The Main Street Farmers Market will be held every Thursday on the north sidewalks of the 100 block from 5 to 8 p.m.
To Barbee, a farmers market is about eating healthy foods, as well as supporting the local agriculture industry. It’s also about bringing people to the downtown area and maybe discovering businesses they weren’t aware off, which is also free advertising for those shops.
“Everybody wins,” he said.
The purpose of Main Street Council Bluffs is to revitalize the city’s central business district, not just for shopping and entertainment, but also as a place to live. It won’t happen overnight, according to Barbee, but such a goal, with community help, might not take that long, either. . . .
Main Street Council Bluffs
Moderators: Coyote, nebugeater, Brad, Omaha Cowboy, BRoss
Main Street Council Bluffs
Barbee, MSCB want Council Bluffs to be a destination point
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
--William Jennings Bryan
--William Jennings Bryan
Downtown 'moving in the right direction'
The rebirth of downtown Council Bluffs is moving in the right direction, local supporters said.
“There have been a multitude of new businesses,” said Arlo Burk, a former president of the Main Street Council Bluffs Board. “There have been more ribbon cuttings in the last two years there than in multiple years before. There are things happening.” . . .
And, many more events are planned to get people back to the central business district to see the growth, Barbee added.
“We want to do four runs a year, one for each season to fill downtown with life.” . . .
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
--William Jennings Bryan
--William Jennings Bryan