Rome Was Not Built in a Day!
In the early 1970’s, several large retail stores chains were built in cities all across the country. These stores contained a wide variety of merchandise that had only been sold in individual specialty stores, mostly in downtown areas. This concept changed the face of downtowns from coast to coast. Mohr Value and Carps were the first of these stores I remember coming to our community. A much more aggressive company...
In the early 1970’s, several large retail stores chains were built in cities all across the country. These stores contained a wide variety of merchandise that had only been sold in individual specialty stores, mostly in downtown areas. This concept changed the face of downtowns from coast to coast. Mohr Value and Carps were the first of these stores I remember coming to our community. A much more aggressive company out of Arkansas, started by Sam Walton, expanded into Missouri in the mid to late ’70’s and bought these stores out. As Walmart expanded across America, the first “Super Center” was built in Farmington, in the 1980’s and began selling a complete line of groceries. The small downtown retail stores and grocery stores simply could not compete and began to close. Woolworths, Teds Clothing, Rechters, TG&Y, Goldmans, Foulon’s Drug Store, Western Auto, Harder & Patterson, the Basement Shoe Store, Piggly Wiggly, Federal IGA, our movie theater, and bowling alley closed. Flat River was fortunate to still have Marler’s Music Store and Mineral Area Office Supply. The empty buildings did have some new tenets. Not Just Comix, Jose’s Flea Market and a barbershop, and several other stores opened; but the downtown never was the same. Downtown parking spots on any Saturday went from full, at all times, to seldom a car in just a few short years.
Flash forward to the end of 2021 and Downtown Park Hills is a changed place, with nearly every empty building now containing a business, and Main Street parking spots are used at just about all hours of the day. You can get ice cream from Scoops, drinks from the Slauterhouse or coffee from RaeCole’s, and food from the Factory Diner, Old Mine House, Subway, The Riverside Grill, or Dominos. There are specialty shops, antique stores, a flea market, a magic shop, the Soap Lady and the theater is now the River Worship Center. Oh yes, Marlers Music, Mineral Area Office Supply, Not Just Comix, and Jose’s Flea Market are still doing business.
Many have asked how this came to pass so quickly and who is responsible for this revitalization of our downtown area? Mayor Clark, former Mayor Naucke, and even myself have had many people tell us what a great job we have done to bring the downtown back to life, in such a short time. In reality, like Rome, it has taken quite some time for this to be accomplished. In Rome’s day, workers laid brick upon brick, day after day for decades to create the wondrous works of that empire. Workers seldom saw the finished outcome of their labor. The beginnings of this rebirth had its start in the early 2000’s when the Downtown Association was resurrected. This association worked to promote the downtown business area and to spur the growth of downtown activities. Norm Lucas, Glenda Straughn, and David Easter became key players in this endeavor. An open house was held to promote empty buildings for businesses. Seven empty buildings were rented and new businesses opened from that initial open house. Trunk-R-Treat was also sponsored by the association and has become the longest-running annual downtown event. The Downtown Association also restarted the tradition of placing flags along Main Street on holidays with the assistance of the Boy Scouts.
Over the past fifteen years, many mayors, city administrators, city councilpersons, and citizens have helped to breathe life back into our downtown area. Like an Olympic Torch Runner, many have worked hard to advance toward this goal and then handed the torch off for someone else to continue that advance. In the last few months the city has had the largest Trunk-R-Treat event ever held, Cruisin For A Cause was weather-hampered; but had a nice rain date finish, and the first annual Hometown Christmas was a big success. The newly built stage has been used several times and Food Trucks now frequent the area. The local garden club has also had a big impact on the downtown with their little minecarts decorated for each season. Seldom does a week go by that I do not receive a phone call, email, or have someone walk up to me to brag on how nice the Park Hills Downtown looks. I always thank them for their nice comments, but let them know that many have worked to make this possible. While downtown has come a long way, there is still room for improvement. It has been said that a thousand-mile journey begins with just one step. During this Holiday Season, I would like to thank those who so many years ago began this journey with that first step, to those who followed and further advanced the torch, and especially to the people that were willing to invest in rebuilding our historic downtown. Merry Christmas and may God Bless you all.
Mark McFarland
City Administrator