Burgaw's money spent elsewhere

Small Town Main Street program working to bring those dollars back to Downtown Burgaw

By Tyra M. Vaughn, Staff Writer

The future of downtown Burgaw could lie in attracting more restaurants and clothing, department and variety stores to fill the vacant storefronts in the town's central business district.

A market study of Burgaw's central business district revealed that residents spend about $11.5 million eating out and shopping for clothing and other general merchandise in other towns.

"They're going to the larger towns such as Wilmington and Wallace for these things," said Robert Murphrey, coordinator of the N.C. Small Town Main Street program, which conducted the three-month study. "Now that we know where these dollars are going, we need to look into bringing these dollars back to the town."

In August, the town joined the N.C. Small Town Main Street program, an arm of the national Main Street initiative.

The Main Street program was founded by the National Historic Trust and is funded in North Carolina by the legislature. In the state, the Main Street designation is set aside for towns with a population of less than 50,000 people and the Small Town Main Street classification is for areas with a population under 7,500.

Burgaw is one of 13 towns in the state that are part of the small town program, Murphrey said.

The towns are given assistance on a full-time basis for two years to help design plans, promote downtown and restructure economically for revitalization.

The market study was a project of the economic restructuring committee with the help of Small Town Main Street staff.

Committees are formed to help develop and pursue projects to help revitalize downtown.

After that, the program's staff helps town officials on an as-needed basis, Murphrey said.

The study examined economic and demographic statistics of residents, in addition to conducting surveys of consumers and business owners.

"I don't believe niches are the savior to a downtown district," he said. "Downtowns need to do a better job of finding the goods and services people need and want rather than finding something to hang your hat on. If you find out what people want, your downtown will thrive."

According to the Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce, more than 45 businesses operate in the central business district, which includes restaurants, retail stores and real estate companies. Three storefronts are vacant.

The answer is working with current business owners to expand their businesses to include merchandise that residents want to buy so more money will be spent in the town. It also includes attracting new restaurants and retailers that specialize in clothing and general merchandise, Murphrey said.

The Small Town Main Street committee, which is made up of about 30 to 40 business owners and community members, will work over the next year to educate businesses about the benefits of expansion and attempt to attract new shops and restaurants to downtown.

The market study has encouraged the town to try to attract more specialized businesses to the downtown area, said Chad McEwen, Burgaw planning administrator, in a news release.

Tyra M. Vaughn: 343-2070  tyra.vaughn@starnewsonline.com