On Sunday I wrote a column about Downtown Brownwood that went a little bit viral. That column was titled You Have it All Wrong and it was about how some people with an axe to grind, and possibly some other problems, were spreading the demonstrably false idea that the only new businesses going into downtown are bars and alcohol establishments. You can find that article archived in my “columns” section here in the Brownwood News. Do read it, because it is preface to today’s word.
As easy it was to destroy that false narrative (because probably 8 or 9 out of 10 new businesses going in downtown aren’t bars and don’t sell alcohol,) the idea that somehow downtown is just an “entertainment district” for adults out to drink and eat is pervasive. And it’s not even remotely true.
After that column went out, it got a lot of traction, and it was shared all over. And I received some great feedback from a lot of people (at least those who care about the truth.)
First, I regretfully failed to mention a lot of businesses that are owned by friends and acquaintances of mine. It wasn’t my intention to namedrop everyone, but it is important that people realize the scope and variety of businesses that are now operating or are opening downtown.
My friend Rebecca at BAKED ARTISAN GOODS playfully reminded me that I neglected to mention her fantastic bakery once again. My wife and I shop there weekly, and it is a world-class bakery. My next-door neighbor is the TRES LECHES BAKERY, which is much more than a great Mexican bakery. I shop there almost every day when I go and buy delicious breakfast burritos for the chefs at work. HEY JUNE is a wonderful antique store where my wife and I shop regularly. I just bought a piece of cinematic history from Melissa at Hey June… the actual desk that appeared in the 80s movie A Place in the Heart with Sally Field. The desk is going to be my cigar rolling table!
Across the alley from me is THE HEN HOUSE, and there are two top-notch axe-throwing joints if you want to take the children for some fun. There are museums, art exhibits, clothing shops, flower shops, a brand-new indoor plant shop at URBAN ROOTS BTX, and a wonderful charcuterie lunch place that just opened called GRAZED and CONFUSED. And all these businesses are locally owned by your neighbors. And there are much, much more! Go by the INTERMISSION BOOKSTORE once a month, talk to Kim, and get a Downtown schedule and map!
So, here’s the deal… if you don’t usually go downtown because some angry people online who are spreading misinformation or who are so deluded by a toxic nostalgia (there is a nostalgia that I write about that is beautiful and healthy) that they cannot tell the truth from their own erroneous fantasies, then I have a challenge for you.
Come downtown. Do it once a month. Maybe twice. Listen, every 2nd Sunday they have a thing cleverly called 2ND SUNDAY. It’s in the name. Anyway, most of the businesses downtown are open on the 2nd Sunday of the month. This Sunday the 13th is 2nd Sunday, so you should come see us. Come by and have brunch at LUCILLE AND MABEL, then go walk around downtown and see everyone. You don’t have to buy any liquor or alcohol or beer if you don’t want to. But if you do want to, there’s that too. Viva choices!
Also, pick another day or a night when you might have taken your family to a big chain shop, a megastore, or a corporate chain restaurant – and instead bring your family downtown. Shop, eat, walk, window shop. Get a tan at VANITY TAN. Get ice cream with the children at OVER THE RAINBOW ICE CREAM Go to EARTH AND NOBLE and buy some clothes. Go to the ARTS CENTER. Get a massage. Come by and talk to me. I’d love to see you. Anyway, just make a day of it!
If I’ve convinced you to give it a try, make sure to let me know!
Your downtown ambassador,
Michael Bunker
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Michael Bunker is a local columnist for BrownwoodNews.com whose columns appear periodically on the website.
