By Barbara Arnstein
An enthusiastic group of local business and community leaders in Springville have banded together to form the Main Street Association. When people think of the places to shop in Springville, they typically picture Walmart, Lowe’s or one of the other stores right near them, but this group is planning to change that kind of thinking. They will be work-ing to make more people aware of the vibrant and quirky shops and fun events around Springville’s downtown area, which boasts unique boutiques, art, entertainment and much more.
“Many people think Springville is too far out there and we’re embracing that sentiment”, said Mary James, owner of Fresh, a boutique on Main Street. “We are ‘Out There’ and it’s why you should lace up your hiking boots or grab a group of friends for coffee, lunch and a cocktail here. There is something hip happening in this town and more people need to check it out”. “Out There”, is actually the group’s slogan, because it can mean either: something far away, or someone who has uniquely creative ideas.
“Not only can you find artisan breads, espresso, theater, music, art and varied shopping in Springville, but Main Street has long been anchored by a number of family-owned establishments that provide key services”, said Luke Skura of Springville Hardware. “They include Springville Hardware, the Meat Shoppe, Sheret Jewelers, and the historic Joy-lan theater. For a rural community, it’s quite remarkable that we’ve managed to retain such establishments”.
Springville is special in many ways. Every Wednesday Gentner’s Auction takes place up on the hill, and when the weather is warm, you can shop at the Farmer’s Market for fruit and vegetables, and browse in the back among the many tables, bins and racks full of plants, clothes, arts and crafts, toys, antiques and many more items. On various weekends in Springville you can catch an award-winning touring musician or another type of performer at the Springville Center for the Arts, where you can also get artisan breads and small meals, and see art on display. Need office space for remote work? Springville has a co-working space right off of Main Street.
“With the completion of a new concrete skatepark, a series of public art pieces downtown includ-ing an Albright Knox mural, development of the Pop Warner portion of the Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail and several new business developments on our downtown Main Street, now felt like the right moment to launch this organization”, said Allison Duwe,
worker-owner at Arts Cafe. “We will focus on marketing Springville, advocating for the policies and projects that matter to downtown, and creating events that will bring people
downtown. We’re about building community and embracing our uniqueness”.
The Main Street Association’s Springville ‘Out There’ message not only relates to the artsy and imaginative elements of Springville but also the opportunities for outdoor recreation that surround it. The group is now gearing up for Springville’s annual Downtown Art Crawl, on Saturday, June 3rd, a wonderfully creative combination of music, demonstrations and art displayed in every busi-ness, which turns the entire town into one big gallery for a day! The event commences with a pa-rade featuring puppets and tractors down Main Street and ends
with an after-party at the Springville Center for the Arts. Sooner than that, there will be the Spring Stroll event, scheduled for Saturday, May 6th. The places for rustic recreation surrounding Springville include Sprague Brook Park, Scoby Dam, the Genesee Road Forestry area, Zoar Valley, the Springville Trout Pond and Griffis Sculpture Park. Some of the best hiking, fishing, canoeing and biking opportunities in Western New York are right in Springville’s backyard. A website for the group is in development. Information about the events or local businesses can now be found on Facebook at: Visit Springville N.Y.