Downtown Plant City is growing – not necessarily in size, but in the new businesses that are opening and the existing businesses that are being helped by this action. There’s also ongoing attention to the look of the area and different ways to keep this momentum moving.
Much of this movement can be attributed to the partnership of Plant City Main Street, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Plant City Economic Development Corporation and the City of Plant City and the various initiatives that have and continue to take place. Special events, program funding grants, and varied promotions are just some of the activities that have helped foster this momentum. All these organizations play a vital role in moving Plant City forward with Plant City Main Street specifically focusing on downtown.
The 25-acre area of Plant City known as “downtown” is unique and key to the attractiveness to existing and new businesses and their customers. People open businesses in the area and visit because of this attribute and fostering that going forward is important. It also helps support local businesses, the primary makeup of downtown Plant City.
Perhaps the best way to look at this is through individual experiences. Cody Lenz with Three Hands Mead was drawn to the area after a Plant City Main Street event called Topics on Tap. “There was interest in having a brewery open in downtown,” he said. “But no existing brewers stepped in, so I did it with Three Hands Mead. That was a good decision. We’re having a tough time keeping up with demand for mead.” Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains or hops. Three Hands Mead is located at 111 South Evers Street.
Across the street, Diane Mendoza recently opened The Crafted Butterfly, an independent craft and home decor store at 102 S Evers St. She was drawn to downtown Plant City by the “support shown for small businesses. That was in line with my business’s needs.”
Matt Morrow with The Tipsy Bookworm (bar and used bookstore at 115 South Evers Street) termed downtown Plant City “strong and unique with great potential for his business” as to why he made the decision. “I was familiar with the people and area as well as their encouragement and support. I could have done this at other locations in the Tampa Bay area, but picked Plant City.”
Next door, Grit Rambusch with Crumbles & Cream Kaffeehaus says, “It was the right place. Different from a strip mall and ideal for me and my bakery.” Maintaining and revitalizing the historic character that attracted Mrs. Rambusch is key to the mission of organizations like Plant City Main Street and supported by programs such as the city’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) matching grants for small businesses.
It’s not only new businesses that are feeling the excitement. Cynthia Diaz has operated The Corner Store at 121 East Reynolds Street for the past 13 years. From the Last Friday in Downtown Food Truck rally to the Downtown Dollars stimulus program that supported businesses last year during the pandemic, she has seen the momentum. “All of us need to keep working together to keep this going,” she said. “Downtown Plant City is good for the whole family with something for everyone.”
The momentum drew Mike Jemison’s attention and was part of the reason he chose to take on the largest development project in the area in decades through Solution Source. Located at the northwest corner of Wheeler and MLK Boulevard, this $12 million project will include first floor commercial and luxury condos. “We anticipate groundbreaking by the end of the year and have already received commitments for the majority of the commercial space,” he said. “I think this project has also sparked others nearby, leading to added momentum for a revitalized downtown Plant City.” The future of Downtown Plant City looks good thanks to the collaborative effort of existing and new businesses, various organizations and consumers.