Main Street Honors Downtown Businesses

The San Marcos Main Street Program recognized several downtown businesses, partners and volunteers at its third annual Love Downtown Awards Friday, Oct. 14. 

The event honored the contributions of downtown merchants and volunteers who work tirelessly to foster a downtown that is a unique and culturally vibrant destination, where people of all ages can connect, create and celebrate.

Award recipients included:

• Downtown New Business of the Year: Rio Claro Studio
• Downtown Legend Business of the Year: The Price Center
• Downtown Business of the Year: Stonewall Warehouse
• Downtown Partner of the Year: Texas State University Dean of Students Office – Alcohol and Drug Compliance Services
• Downtown Volunteer of the Year: Stephanie Bryant
• Downtown Development Award: AquaBrew

Main Street would like to thank the community for submitting over 1,000 nominations for favorite downtown businesses. Among the finalists for the Love Downtown Awards were:

Dahlia Woods Gallery, Candy Sweets & Treats, and Rio Claro Studio for New Business of the Year; The Price Center, Root Cellar Café, and Tantra Coffeehouse for Legend Business of the Year; and Dixie Cream Donuts, Rhea’s Ice Cream and Stonewall Warehouse for Business of the Year.

Each of these businesses embody the vision statement adopted by the Main Street Advisory Board earlier this year.

“We absolutely could not be able to accomplish the goals set forth by the Advisory Board without our businesses and partners,” Debbie Harvey, Main Street Advisory Board Chair said during the presentation.

This year, Main Street is celebrating 30 years as a Main Street city. In those 30 years, sales tax generated in downtown has increased, volunteer hours have reached record highs and the number of events hosted by Main Street have encouraged new audiences to fall in love with downtown San Marcos.

The celebration continues as two downtown businesses have been selected as finalists for the 2016 Texas Downtown Association Presidents Awards Program to be held in Killeen in November.

Home Brew Supply, located at 130 E. San Antonio Street was selected as a finalist for “Best Restoration – Over 50k population,” and AquaBrew, located at 150 S. LBJ Drive, was selected as a finalist for “Best New Construction – Over 50k population.” 

Winners will be announced on November at the President’s Awards Gala held in conjunction with the 2016 Texas Downtown Conference in Killeen.

For questions or to get involved with Main Street Program events, email mainstreet@sanmarcostx.gov.