Kim Williams, director of the Conway Downtown Partnership, said the revitalization of downtown is continuing with more new additions and new ideas.
“People are opening their eyes to downtown. It’s like a reawakening,” she said.
Downtown is already a “gift shop Mecca,” Williams said, and dining options are still growing. She said downtown offers one-stop shopping for everything from gifts to furniture.
She said she is hopeful downtown will soon have a fresh market with produce, which would be a new attraction to the area. Also, she sees possibilities that new businesses coming to downtown could include a new bake shop, coffee shop, and a jazz café, she said. Williams also noted Just T’s N is opening an additional location downtown.
The holidays are always a reason to go downtown, Williams said.
“All our current merchants are gearing up for a huge holiday season with a holiday open house on Nov. 8 from 1 to 5 p.m., sponsored by the Log Cabin Democrat,” she said.
Another enhancement to downtown Conway, she said, is that a group of merchants has formed Next Step, an organization bringing musicians to downtown sidewalks. Eight groups will play different types of music on a rotating basis at various downtown restaurants and other locations from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, she said.
Hopefully, Williams said, more infrastructure projects will be seen in downtown soon as well. Those will be led by the Conway Development Corporation, she said, but the Conway Downtown Partnership will participate as well.
Williams oversaw the kickoff of Third Thursdays in June after taking the reins of the Downtown Partnership in March. Third Thursdays is an idea to encourage downtown merchants to offer something special, whether unveiling a new product or offering a special deal, to attract traffic to downtown on that particular night of the month.
Another recent addition to downtown occurred in August, when the Conway Farmers Market moved from its longtime location at the Faulkner County Fairgrounds to Front Street.
Before coming to work at the Downtown Partnership, Williams was a salesperson with Fulton Press. In previous job roles she gained experience in customer relations, consulting, database administration, and marketing.
She commented in a previous interview with the Log Cabin Democrat, “Everyone sees how great downtown Conway is. A strong core makes promoting that much easier.”
Williams concluded, “I just want people to understand downtown Conway is the largest mall in the central Arkansas area. It’s the largest outdoor mall in central Arkansas with one-stop shopping for all your shopping needs, whether you’re looking for a bridal gown, to decorate for your wedding, to any kind of event … antiques, we have five (antique) stores in less than a block. We have five men’s and women’s clothing stores, two children’s stores, and dining within easy walking distance. We have three full-service furniture stores, two jewelry stores, a bookstore – what more could you ask for? And it’s all home-owned and operated.”