Businesses Getting Polished with Main Street Help

Diamonds in the rough, above Sallisaw True Value Hardware, are being polished with a grant provided by Sallisaw Main Street. The $20,000 project is expected to be completed in about two weeks, weather permitting. This is the second renovation funded by a Main Street grant, and with equity by the building owners. The first project was at The Shed, owned by Trish Perry, at the corner of Cherokee and Elm. Margaret Perry, Main Street president, said painting The Shed in historic colors of the time period will complete the project at The Shed. She said the buildings were built in the late 1880s or early 1900s, and plans are to paint the store fronts in colors as close as possible to the original. The diamond pattern that tops the hardware store front "is amazing," Perry said. "It's amazing what a little wash can do." Perry noted that it is expected the new awnings and metal work on the store fronts will encourage pigeons who live downtown to move on. The windows that run across the top of the  hardware store will also be repaired, Perry said. 

The hardware store is owned by Carl Moss and Barry Teague, and Main Street is working with other downtown building owners to renovate their store fronts too. Brian Bates of Roland is the contractor on the hardware store front. Dave Nelson assisted with the renovation of The Shed store front. Each store front will also have a black awning, at different heights to add interest Perry said. When the store fronts and awnings are complete, Main Street will install vintage lighting to complete the renovation of the downtown area. "This is going to make a huge difference in downtown," Perry said.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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