Home      Shop Local     Get Involved      Business Resources      Main Street Events      4-Point Approach      Contact Us
      Shop Hop Event Participants        
Beat the heat and enjoy some Midnight Madness shopping THIS THURSDAY from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight!  Check the map below for details.
Emporia Main Street 
E-Newsletter
Greetings!

Midnight Madness is this THURSDAY, we have a ton of cool events including Welcome Back Block Party, Great American Market and much more coming up QUICKLY!  Plus, we have results from a local survey and community questions answered.  This summer is flying by!  Keep reading for more information.
   Summer Midnight Madness

 

   
  
 

For more information on the Emporia Arts Center, Click HERE.

    

    
live in the lot
   

 

 

 

Barn Quilt

American's rural barns have been decorated for centuries.  Barn quilt and barn quilt trails have made a resurgence in the past two decades, including a quilt trail in the Flint Hills.  Participants will create a 2x2' barn quilt appropriate for outdoor display.  Includes all supplies except for those required for framing or hanging.  If possible, please bring a hair dryer and a yard stick.  If you have a favorite quilt block pattern you would like to recreate you can bring that, we will also provide possible patterns that night.

Instructor:  Mandy Kern

Schedule:  Tues, July 14, 6:00pm-9:00pm

Fee:  $45

Location:  FHTC

 

 

 

Soapmaking 101

Learn the art of soap making with the Farmgirl Fresh mother-daughter team-how to make skin healthy cold process lye soaps with quality oils, modern conveniences and embellishments. Each participant gets to take a bar of homemade soap home with them as well as our tried and true recipe and tips of the trade!

Cost: $29 includes $3.75 bar of soap

Instructor: Mary Allen and Megan Allen

Location: FHTC kitchen

Schedule: Sat. July 18, 1-3:00pm

 

 

 

Beginners Chalk & Milk Painting

You're ready to dive into a project but want a little hands on experience first, this is the class for you!  We will walk you through the steps of Milk and or Chalk paint to create your own piece of wall art.  We offer hands on assistance and easy to create designs.  No artistic ability? NO PROBLEM, if you can color in a coloring book you can create a gorgeous piece of art.  We provide everything needed to finish a great signboard for your home or as a gift. 

Schedule:  2 hr class, July 23, 6-8pm

Price:  $35

 

 

Julie J. Cooper, Director

Flint Hills Technical College

Community Connections, Customized Training and Career Services

Office:  620.341.1377

Cell:  620.343.0258

Email:  [email protected]

Web:  www.fhtc.edu


 

  Mobile App QR Codes

 Learn more about local amenities, organizations, businesses, events and more with the E-Town Mobile App!  The ETown App is a joint project among Emporia State University, Flint Hills Technical College, USD 253, The Emporia Gazette, the City of Emporia, the Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau and Emporia Main Street.

 

For IPhone Users, Click Here!

 

For Android Users, Click Here!

 

For the iPad Version, Click Here! 

 

For the Web Version, click here:

www.etownapp.com 

Property Availability Guide
For property owners with property available for rent or sale, this is a free service to collect information and post it on the Emporia Main Street Web Site.  With other market information available, we hope this site makes it easier for potential businesses and property developers to find spaces they need.
CLICK HERE to enter information about your available property and view previously submitted information.
Business Investment Guide
Business Investment Guide 
 

Do you know a business that should locate in Emporia?  Maybe you know an entrepreneur looking for resources or a business owner looking to expand?  The Business Investment Guide is community information designed to help you point your contacts in the right direction!

 

CLICK HERE for the INVESTMENT GUIDE

Survey Says!
    
A spot survey conducted revealed your thoughts

In an effort to stay more "in tune" with your wants and needs, Emporia Main Street Special Projects Coordinator Shane Wilson recently hit the streets to collect a randomized sample of responses to a very basic survey.  We weren't asking businesses for anything except for some honest feedback.  Normally, we try to simply upload raw data from surveys to give the public a more unmitigated view of survey results (we still have the raw data if anyone wants it), but we are trying to disseminate information more via infographic to aid in its absorption.

 

Here is what you had to say:

 

 

Before we get into qualifying some of the survey sample results, we want to make sure everyone has a chance to share their voice.

 

CLICK HERE to participate in our business feedback survey!

 

Because so many of you responded with information about customer service, we want to give you the opportunity to CLICK HERE for our Secret Shopper form, that allows you to give anonymous feedback (positive or negative) of area businesses. 

 

 

The feedback we have received thus far as a "sample" is good.  We need to hear both the good and bad from membership and potential members so we can either adjust or at least explain our reasoning.  From a "we need to do a better job" department- it looks like we need to be more explicit in our descriptions of how businesses can get more visibly involved in community projects.  A project guide, with suggestions, more individualized communication, and additional focus group approaches to carve out niches for businesses that are easy to execute is in order.  

 

From a street closure standpoint, a lot of the feedback centered on businesses that wished larger events were centered in "their area".  While we understand the desire, and we do our best to rotate when possible, we have to remind people of a few things.  First, we can't close down 6th Avenue.  It's a federal highway and takes an act of Congress to close, so activities are generally restricted on streets that have an easily accessible detour route in lower speed areas with a defined pedestrian accessibility.  Downtown fits those attributes nicely.  Secondly, we partner with other agencies, entities and businesses to execute some of the different large scale events, which sets a geographic location.  The Granada Theatre holds the liquor license for events like the Dirty Kanza and Cinco de Mayo, and thus, events take place in proximity to the Granada Theatre.  One of the major partners for the Welcome Back Block Party is Emporia State University, and thus the event is held adjacent to the university.  The Great American Market starts from a centralized point and stretches south to the railroad tracks and north to 12th avenue IF we have enough vendors.  Third, public safety officials would rather any pedestrian based event not cross the railroad tracks for obvious safety reasons.  We attempt to vary locations the best we can, but there are some geographic hosting reasons that are outside of our control.

 

Emporia Main Street is the antithesis of a static organization.  We constantly strive to evolve to meet opportunities and mitigate threats on behalf of your business and the future of this community.  Over the next weeks and months, you will have the opportunity to see some new concepts that we are rolling out in a testing phase.  Some will target specific business types, some will facilitate new levels of community integration, some will make it easier for people to get involved in specific projects, new access to financial programs to allow for specific types of startups and expansions will come to fruition, and others will serve as traffic builders to benefit the community.  

 

Keep providing feedback!  Remember, we work for YOU and YOUR Emporia.  When businesses take advantage of communication programs, we all win!

 

 

Im a Main Streeter 

 Did you know???

Last week we held a meeting with ESU Work Study officials, talked to a local professional about streamlining business and organizational finance options, held a promotions meeting,
This Emporia Gazette Photo from the ESB Financial Homegrown Celebration features Casey Woods demonstrating prior to the watermelon eating contest.  Click HERE for the Gazette photo gallery.
hosted a design meeting, attended Brown Bag, hosted multiple meeting for upcoming projects, met with some new businesses interested in teaming up with Emporia Main Street, conducted a finance call with a governmental organization that had programs that could potentially benefit Emporia, hosted a fundraising meeting for upcoming projects and participated as a judge in the ESB Financial Homegrown Competition at the Emporia Farmers Market this past Saturday.  Summer is just flying by!  With all the fun events and activities we are getting some 
good questions from all of you
!

  
1.  "Where the heck were you last week?"- From a volunteer. Becky Smith and Shane Wilson "held down the fort" last week from late Tuesday afternoon to Friday afternoon.  Evidently, a case of adult strep throat has been circling around Emporia and it landed squarely on me with a big "thud".  I apologize for any inconvenience my absence may have caused, and now I'm ready to get back at it!
 

2. "Can we simply volunteer for a function within Main Street instead of being on a committee?" From a local professional.  Sure!  We are always looking for creative ways to get people involved.  As this particular individual was talking to us, he said "the less time you are spending on _____, the more time you can spend on everything else you do."  He had a good point.  We need to be more flexible in adjusting to how people want to volunteer, and we look forward to instituting some of that flexibility in this year's work planning.



3. "How will Main Street handle inevitable volunteer turnover?"  From a city leader.  Turnover in any organization is inevitable.  People move, valued members pass away, people's lives change, some individual's priorities change...  This year, more than the past few, we will engage a new transition program to identify new volunteer opportunities that target a wider demographic range, skill sets and other attributes that mirror our holistic approach.  In Emporia we are blessed with a wide range of volunteer opportunities that fit a number of different skill sets, schedules and personality types.  It's not difficult to find a way to volunteer in our community, but we understand that not every organization is a great fit for every individual.  This year, we want to find more of those individuals that want to take an active role in creating the type of Emporia we can all be proud to call home!  If you know people that fit that description, please contact Emporia Main Street so we can get them involved!!!

Riverside Elementary will be holding a walk-about on September 22nd to learn more about their city. If your business would like to host a tour for the students or provide something that shows off your business, please contact Randielle  at 620-757-9916 or Tracy at 620-481-9987. 

 

4.  "Do you have to be on Commercial Street to participate in Midnight Madness?" From a business outside of the downtown.  No.  Our map is designed and promoted to support any member that chooses to participate, regardless of their location.  We do have some businesses that choose to open a "pop up shop" in the downtown area to take advantage of a vacancy, but any member that is willing to stay open late and offer some sort of special is eligible to participate.


 

5.  "If I want to anonymously give feedback to a business, how would I do that?" From a call to the office.  We get calls at the Emporia Main Street office, maybe a couple of times a month, that want to provide some directives to an Emporia business.  Sometimes it's as simple as "they should really clean up their sidewalk", and other times it may be more service or pricing related.  Some people naturally avoid confrontation, but it is important to communicate expectations to local businesses to improve customer service and overall business quality.  The customer isn't always right, and sometimes unrealistic expectations are communicated that the business has little control over.  Regardless, Emporia Main Street created an anonymous on-line secret shopper form, that allows you to communicate positive or negative experiences to a local business.  CLICK HERE for the form.  Once filled out, we send a copy of the form to the business in question to do with as they wish.  It's really that simple.


 
  

In This Issue #302 07/14/15
Midnight Madness
Emporia Arts Center
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Live in the Lot
Flint Hills Technical College Classes
ETown Mobile Application
Properties Available
Business Investment Guide
Survey Says!
Did You Know?
Calendar of Events

President's Circle

 

ERG

Emporia Realty Group

www.emporiarealtygroup.com

608 Commercial

620-412-9850

 

IM Design Group  
 
IM Design Group

www.imdesigngroup.com

17 W. 5th

620-343-3909

KISS logo
541 Sherman

www.kiss103.1.net

620-343-6144

 

Brickyard 20 Ale House

Brickyard 20 Ale House

402 Merchant

www.brickyard20alehouse.com

 

Image result for u.s. cellular logo

2326 Industrial Road

620-342-0150

Benefactors 

 

Bobby D's Merchant Street BBQ

 

Cable One

 

ESB Financial 

 

Flint Hills Roofing and Gutter

 

Journeys Inc.

 

KVOE AM 1400KVOE FM 101.7MIX 104.9

 

Longbine Auto Plaza

 

Moon Title & Escrow

 

Roberts Blue Barnett Funeral Home

Evergreen Design Build
Kaw Valley Engineering
Emporia Main Street Calendar of Events

 

 

 

July 15

Emporia Main Street Board of Directors Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office

 

Drum Safari

Emporia Public Library

Brown Bag- Noon at the Library

 

July 16

Midnight Madness

 

July 22

Business Enhancement Team Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street Office.

 

Live in the Lot- featuring Kenji Bolden and Fast Times- 7:00 p.m. in the Farmers Market Parking Lot

 

August 5

Board of Directors Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office

 

August 12

Promotions Team Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office

 

Design Team Meeting

Noon in the Emporia Main Street office

 

August 14

Mix and Match

 

August 17

Welcome Back Block Party

 

August 19

Board of Directors Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office

 

August 26

Business Enhancement Team Meeting

8:00 a.m. in the Emporia Main Street office

 

September 12

Great American Market

 

 

For more community event listings, please visit:

www.etownapp.com 

 

Do you have an upcoming event for your business or organization?

 

Let Emporia Main Street know and we may include it on our upcoming calendars!

 

General Level Members

 

AKA Marketing

 

Amish Woodworks

 

Applebees

  

Ash LLC

 

Atherton & Huth

 

Bath Expressions

 

The Beauty Bar

 

Ben Moore Studio

 

Bennett Dental Group

 

BG Consultants

 

BLI Rentals

 

Bluestem Farm and Ranch

 

Brown's Shoe Fit

 

Bruff's Bar and Grill

 

C & J Woodworks


Candlewood Suites

 

Capitol Federal

 

Cassell Insurance

 

Chester Press

  

Clark Carpet and Tile, Inc.

  

Coffelt Sign Co.

  

Complete Works

  

Country Mart/Price Chopper

 

Dan's Hands Massage

 

Davis Paints

 

DG Wingz

 

Disciple Shoppe

 

Dorsey Eye Care

 

Douglas Chiropractic

 

Dr. Kerri Thompson, DDS

 

Dynamic Discs

 

Eastwood Lake Apartments

 

Eclectic Bikes

 

Ek Real Estate

 

Emporia Construction and Remodeling

 

Emporia Radio Stations: KVOE, 104.9 & 101.7

 

Emporia State Federal Credit Union

 

E-Town Solutions

 

ESU Memorial Union

 

Evergreen Design-Build

 

Flint Hills Eye Care

 

Flint Hills Mall

Association

 

Flint Hills Music

 

Floyd's Automotive

 

Forget Me Not Productions

 

Four Seasons Apartments

 

George Groh and Sons

 

Gerald Schumann Electric

 

Granada Coffee Company

 

Graves Drug Store

 

Haag Management

 

Hair Krafters

 

Heart Center Studio

 

Helbert & Allemang

 

High Gear

   

Java Cat Coffeehouse

 

Jimmy Johns

 

Junque Drawer Emporium

 

Kansas Radio 96.1 The Wave

 

King Liquor

 

L & L Pets

 

Little Red Rooster

 

Lyon County State Bank

 

Lyon County Title 

 

Mark II Lumber

 

McDonalds

 

McKinzie Pest Control

 

Midas Touch Tans

 

Mike Alpers Agency

 

Mr. Sisters Sweets

 

Modern Air Conditioning, Inc.

  

Mulready's Pub

 

Navrats Office Supply

 

Papa John's Pizza

 

Paper Moon Antiques

 

Pizza Hut

 

Pizza Ranch

 

Plum Bazaar

 

Poehler Mercantile

 

Pool and Associates

 

Prairie Sage Apartments

 

Pro-Cuts

 

Rand Simmons Law Office

 

Redline Trucking

 

Reflxns Salon

 

Rhinestone Cowgirl Salon

 

Rockin' Accessories

 

Sauder Custom Fabrication

 

Schellers Lawn and Landscape

 

Scott's Lawn and Landscaping

 

Second Love Gifts

 

Stanley Jewelry

  

Studio 11

 

Studio 50.4

 

Subway

 

Sunflower Gymnastics

 

Sutherlands Lumber Co.

 

Sweet Granada

 

Textbook Corner

 

Thompson Auto Repair

 

Thrifts and Gifts

 

Toso Appraisal

 

Total Technology

 

Town Crier Bookstore

 

Triad Leasing

 

Uncommon Threads

 

Value-Net LLC 

 

Waters True Value Hardware

 

Westar Energy

 

Williams Automotive

 

Wright CPA Group PA

 

Wright's Furniture

 

Xan-A-Do Salon


Non Profit Level Members 

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters

 

Cradle to Career Cneter

 

Emporia Eastside Community Group

 

EHS- FBLA

 

Emporia Arts Council

 

Emporia Chamber of Commerce

 

Emporia Farmers Market

 

Emporia Friends of the Zoo

 

Emporia Presbyterian Church

 

Emporia Friends of the Library

 

ESU- Alumni Association

 

ESU- Small Business Development Center

 

ESU- Memorial Union

 

ESU- Theatre Dept.

 

Flint Hills Community Health Center

 

Granada Theatre Alliance

 

National Teachers Hall of Fame

 

Saint Francis Community Services

 

Salvation Army

 

SOS

 

TFI Family Services


Home Based Business Members

 

Avon- Amanda Hopkins

  

Gold Canyon Candles- Stephanie Morgan

 

Green Door Recycling

 

Interdependent Web, LLC

 

Mary Kay- Lori Engle

 

Origami Owl- Angela Dowell

 

Paula's Creations

 

Pampered Chef- Chelsea Gerleman

 

Purse Lady- Nancy Crawford

 

Tastefully Simple- Vanessa Apodaca

 

Thirty One Gifts- Linsey Hopkins

 

Individual Supporters

 

Amy and Rick Becker 

 

Amy Evans

 

Brad Harzman

 

Dale & Carolyn Davis

 

Don Hill

 

Erin and Casey Woods

 

Joyce Zhou

 

Julie Johnson

 

Kayle Oney

 

Kelly Wade

 

Lynn Knechtel

 

Mark and Amy McAnarney

 

Michael and Karen Shonrock

 

Valerie and Matt Zimmerman

 

Roger Heineken

 

Smitty Smith

 

Sue Blechl

 

Tim & Mary Helmer

 

Tyler & Melanie Curtis

 

Yvonne Pool

  

                                                                                       Main Street Logo                             
                                   Casey Woods                                       
Emporia Main Street
12 E. 5th Avenue
Emporia, KS 66801
(P) 620-340-6430
(F) 620-340-6434
If you only want to go where you've already been, always do what you've already done.  If you want to achieve something different, you must do things differently.