what’s old is new again.. . and here to stay
Preservation Collaboration
“NO ONE WANTS TO PRESERVE THE EXPERIENCE ON THE SQUARE MORE THAN THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AND OWN HERE.” ~CHET GARNER AND JOSH SCHROEDER
I
f you’ve lived in Georgetown for a time, you’ve likely heard the comparison to Mayberry; and most often during an event on the Square, like Poppyfest or the Christmas Stroll. Even better—not only does our Square have the charm and welcome of a small town, it also has a medley of thriving businesses that bring residents and tourists alike to shop and stroll seven days a week. The balance of businesses on the Square has been a hot topic recently. We are fortunate to have building owners and professionals who work on the square advocate for and support businesses with the potential to sustain their livelihood, but also preserve their historic buildings for generations to come.
Ann Marie Kennon • annmarie@georgetownview.com
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MAR CH 2020 GEO R GE TO W N V I EW
TIPPING POINT Josh Schroeder is an attorney at Sneed Vine on 8th St. He recalls, “When 600 Degrees Pizza opened down the street, all of the businesses on the Square were mom-n-pops, and many of the buildings were not occupied. To me, there was a pivotal moment when the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team began killing it in the World Cup and this business decided to ask, ‘Would you like a beer with lunch?’. It wasn’t long before you couldn’t even get in the door to have lunch there. The Square began to change.” Chet Garner leased a building on the Square in 2012 for Hogeboom Productions and legal work. He purchased his first building in 2014 because he found the Square to have a lot of potential; “I traveled a lot and I loved what I saw here. I could see what it could become.” He now owns three buildings and says, “We work here ourselves, and while we know we could buy some land in a cow pasture and lay down a slab for a lot less, we absolutely want to be here because of the atmosphere and the culture. It is in our own best interest to make the Square a fun and vibrant place to work.”