One of Downtown Arcola’s most familiar landmarks, The Historic Depot, is opening its doors to two new, local businesses just in time for the holiday season! Gift getters have a fresh set of reasons to head downtown and visit The Historic Depot that’s giving a pair of entrepreneurs a place to get to their start.
A soft opening is set for tomorrow, Saturday, October 31st, followed by the official “grand opening” and ribbon cutting on Friday, November 6th, starting at 4 p.m..
The two businesses are Marie on Main and Three French Hens. Marie on Main will carry women’s and children’s boutique items, accessories and novelty gifts, while Three French Hens brings sourdough bread, home décor and design services. Both will be open Fridays and Saturdays throughout the holiday season, with some vendors offering additional hours.
They’ll share two rooms inside the Depot, while the front of the building will continue showcasing Arcola’s history through maps, photographs, and pieces from the community’s past.
The project grew out of the City of Arcola’s ‘Vacancy to Vibrancy’ Initiative, an ongoing effort to put empty downtown buildings back to work. Hannah Myers, Community Development Specialist for the City of Arcola, said the Depot was a chance to give an existing building a new purpose. “We are excited about the Chamber’s move into the Broom Palace, but we also recognized an opportunity to give the Depot a new purpose rather than leave another downtown building vacant,” Myers said. “This project allows us to preserve an important piece of Arcola’s history while creating space for entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life.” Myers helped carry the project from concept to reality by developing a business plan, preparing a request for proposals, coordinating the building’s cleanup, and connecting with entrepreneurs interested in the space.
The Historic Depot also ties in with ‘Vision to Venture,’ a collaboration between Douglas County and the cities of Arcola and Tuscola, that helps entrepreneurs develop their business concepts and test them out. Participants can work toward a permanent location or use an “incubator space” like the Depot to build experience and figure out their next steps. The City of Arcola invites residents and visitors to stop by the Historic Depot, meet the business owners, and help welcome Marie on Main and Three French Hens to downtown!
Remember, shop local this holiday season!
