18 months have gone by since I first visited with Mark Nation to discuss his plans to build a destination restaurant in Historic Downtown Sanford. Sitting in his old Longwood offices, and then walking the city block-sized parcel spanning south and west from 2nd Street & Oak Ave to 3rd Street & Myrtle Ave, his ambitious plan consisted of two...
Growth Watch
Amidst the world-class culinary and craft locales in Historic Downtown Sanford, a new organization comprised of business owners from the retail and service industry has emerged as a collaborative force, and this teamwork and camaraderie is leading to improvements to both the bottom line and the #Sanfording experience. In the past, events and full streets could often overshadow the storefronts...
The Sanford Historic Trust is preparing to once again bring Historic Downtown Sanford a “must-see” event, as the 32nd Annual Holiday Tour of Homes begins Saturday, December 4. Under the watchful eyes and creative vision of the Sanford Historic Trust’s membership body and accomplished board of directors, this nonprofit organization has always found creative ways to engage the Sanford community...
Tuffy’s Bottle Shop & Lounge and Tuffy’s Music Box – Quintessential Example of Growth in HDS Historic Building Reclaimed & Renovated to Fit a Modern Entrepreneurial Vision A decade ago, the scene looked different for both Dan St. Pierre and the resolute, an almost forgotten structure standing at 200 Myrtle Ave in Sanford. St. Pierre, a Central Floridian by birth...
Historic Downtown Sanford® Selected as the Official Marketing Partner of Sanford Main Street In just three short years, Historic Downtown Sanford has become the ubiquitous label which captures all that the downtown corridor is. Founder Will Henao through his agency Community Marketing Online has been able to execute a tourism brand campaign that has proved viable, visionary, and will continue...
Sanford locals, neighbors, friends, and bicycle enthusiasts Jimmy Galvez & Theo Hollerbach are opening up a new business in Historic Downtown Sanford – Bicikleta Bike Shop! With their bicycle and industry knowledge, expertise, passion, and hospitality, the new venture located on the corner of 3rd St. and Magnolia Ave is poised to enhance and benefit the community and ‘Create Cyclists.’...
Since the razing of the San Leon hotel in 1917, no new structures have been built on the prominent corner of 2nd St and Sanford Ave, but developer Dan Matthews has moved forward with his plans to revitalize the corner by adding 10 housing units and a 2300 SF retail footprint in Historic Downtown Sanford. This urban infill project has...
A 51-room hotel may soon be located on the corner of 1st St. and Oak Ave in Historic Downtown Sanford, filling what many consider to be a huge need for tourists and guests to the Celery City. First Street Station, a proposed residential and commercial mixed-use development from owners/developers Ron Semans and Bob Horian, also seeks to construct 32 townhome...
In a matter of weeks, Historic Downtown Sanford’s residents and visitors will spot something new maneuvering on the waters of scenic Lake Monroe. Even better, they will be able to pedal themselves around the lake on this new attraction! Pedalcruise.com has secured a slip at the Sanford Marina and expects delivery of their 24-person party boat ‘Pier Pressure’ shortly after...
When I first wrote about the forthcoming project from local attorney Mark Nation and his partners, visions of the New Orleans-themed restaurant and distillery generated significant interest. The Nation group purchased a city-block sized parcel of land nestled on the rapidly growing west side of Historic Downtown Sanford, and a year later, it can happily be reported that construction work...
