wntown Hagerstown is coming back, but not in the way that we were thinking. Read on.One morning this week, various officials from the five counties of Western Maryland (Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Carroll) convened in downtown Hagerstown. Tourism directors, arts council directors, and downtown development managers met up at the Washington County Arts Council Gallery on the Public Square. After a half hour of coffee from our new neighbors at Skyline Coffee, introductions, welcoming remarks and Krumpe's Do-Nuts (a family-owned Hagerstown business since the 1930s, and at $27 for five dozen, what could be better on a chilly January morning than some Krumpe's?) the 30-odd
(well, not so odd, actually) colleagues marched up the street for some creative activity and conversation at the Potomac Bead Company. The day continued with a tasty lunch at Duffy's on Potomac, some fascinating facts and figures from Tom Riford of the Hagerstown Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau about Washington County history and future, and a tour of other downtown developments such as the Gourmet Goat and the fabulous new loft apartment in the Goat's upper storeys, surely an example of how comfortably life can be lived in downtown Hagerstown.Note: click on any photo to embiggen for the loveliness.
Okay, of course, it was an opportunity just ripe for showing-off how far our downtown has come in recent years. There was nothing half-rate about anything, from the art in the WCAC Gallery to the service at Duffy's. But so
mething else occurred to me during our show-and-tell. A majority of these chic, enjoyable success stories in downtown Hagerstown are the result of hard work, creativity, and chutzpah on the part of some relatively young entrepeneurs who are ignoring chronic nay-sayers in our community. Here's a non-exhaustive catalog of that youthful cohort who (that? which? is? are? .... life is confusing in a fast-forward community) making our community bloom again: Early on (okay, three or four years ago) two young women got Hagerstown Magazine not only off the ground, but went on to establish a thriving publishing company which recently launched a new business magazine, Smart Company (their names are Kate Rader and Andrea Rowland, and if they offer you an advertising contract, you may as well give in without struggle because they will win). And Kate and Andrea are only the start of an amazing network of young business people re-creating our downtown. There are excellent high-tech design and marketing firms and retailers all around the Public Square. Skyline Coffee, Duffy's, Potomac Bead Company, High Rock Interactive, Demcore Development, WCAC Gallery, Alter Ego Clothing, Bentley's Bagels, all run by business people who were in diapers during the Carter Administration (note: my first presidential vote helped Jimmy Carter get into the White House; it was 1976 and I was in college; do the math). As an arts administrator, it both makes me proud and gives me pause to realize that the Maryland Symphony Orchestra's very able executive director is younger than my driver's license.
Now add to that mix various recent arrivals, meaning persons not born in the U.S. Excellent meals to be had at Durango on Washington Street. And, seriously, there is no comfort food more effective than the kabobs at Leila's on East Franklin. Plus, just a couple weeks ago I noticed a new Mexi-mart at the corner of Antietam and Locust; can't wait to check that out!
Of course there are savvy downtown citizens and entrepeneurs who maybe have a decade or so head start on these uppity eager youngsters. We'd be lost without our stalwart never-say-die businesses: Tom Newcomer at R. Bruce Carson Fine Jewelry; Carol & Company; Hoffman Clothiers; Bickel's Ski Shop, DatAchieve, not to mention The Plum, Rhubarb House, and of course the Maryland Theatre. Go just a block in one direction or another, and find gems like Potomac Seafood on East Franklin Street (my Eastern Shore relatives swear it's the best, and they are Very Picky About Their Seafood). Or there's that swell flurry of women's clothing shops around the corner of Potomac and Franklin. But... there's something irrepressibly new happening in historic downtown Hagerstown. Finally, this time, I think, maybe this once, the race is to the swift, the battle to the strong. We are blessed with a good share of each. Downtown is ours for the making. Let's do it.
