Little remembers when a brick row of stores ran parallel to the train tracks. There was a post office downtown, as well as a poolroom and a dry cleaners. The dry cleaners is still there. sip on an espresso at Gabi’s Coffee Shoppe. Others saw the promise of a new downtown Cornelius years ago. Emily Haggart opened Avalilly’s almost ten years ago when downtown was rather desolate and the idea of an upscale women’s boutique taken up residence there was unheard of. Bebe Gallini’s, a gift and home décor boutique, opened its doors a little before that at The Shoppes at Oak Street Mill Antiques opened 15 years ago. On any given day, you’ll find folks walking up and down the streets, enjoying the
Above, The Shoppes at Oak Street Mill. Left, Lorraine Smith, owner of downtown’s Brand Name Consignment, steams a dress. atmosphere of downtown and getting done what needs to be done. As these two worlds continue to complement each other, you can be sure that we haven’t seen anything yet. — Lori K. Tate, photography by Glenn Roberson
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lake norman currents | February 2014 | www.lncurrents.com