The ongoing transformation and revitalization of downtown Christiansburg as a shopping and business hub received a major boost Wednesday afternoon with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and reception at Great Road on Main. The occasion was the formal launching of a collaborative effort among Downtown Christiansburg, Inc., the Montgomery Museum of Art & History and the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
Now together at the Main Street address is the office of Downtown Christiansburg, Inc., and the Montgomery County Virginia Regional Tourism office and the Museum Market on Main, a gift shop sponsored by the Montgomery Museum of Art and History that features products from local artists and craftsmen and a semi-permanent exhibit. The tourism office will serve visitors from its new location Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
9am-5pm.
Christiansburg Mayor Mike Barber spoke briefly of how excited he was about the project and how important it was to downtown Christiansburg.
Great Road President Mike Larkin recalled that it wasn’t too long ago that “we were knocking down walls.” He spoke of the changes that finally got everyone to this point, noting “This is part of a plan that wasn’t really a plan.” Larkin spoke of this location as “an incubator for small business” and called it “very exciting. There’s more to come.”
Downtown Christiansburg President Justin Sanders said what has been completed today was “the transformation [of this site] from a giant question mark in the downtown business district to a giant exclamation point. We want to see more projects like this” that transform “buildings that are vacant or underutilized.”
Sanders said he sees the collaborative project as “a challenge, a starting point for more investment and action in downtown. Let’s strive to transform downtown” and establish it as a destination, an economically viable central business district and a vibrant center for culture and the community.
Downtown Christiansburg, Inc. will use its new space for meetings and a headquarters for various events such as the Food Truck Rodeo and Wine and Artisans festival.
