Creating a one-stop shop: Local business owner helps revitalize area

With more than 23 shopping malls covering nearly 24 million square feet in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, small locally owned businesses have to work even harder to compete with big box stores.

In Lewisville, small business owners in Old Town are trying to make the area a destination shopping center through revitalization. In 2000, the decision was made to revitalize the area in hopes of making it a one-stop shop for living, working and playing.

Amanda Ferguson has owned her own business, Nest Floral Studio, in Old Town Lewisville for seven years. She grew up in Lewisville, but moved to Austin where she began her work in the floral industry.

"I moved back here about 10 years ago and decided I wanted to open my own business," Ferguson said. "I've always worked for someone else, so I decided it was time to work for myself."

When shopping for a location for her store, she was influenced by her father's love for Old Town and fell in love with the area herself.

"I looked around Old Town at all the other locally owned shops and saw that we really lacked something here that I've brought to the forefront. I bought the old AA building and made sure I was part of the revitalization effort. I wanted to be an example for other locally owned business that might look to move here that you can be successful as a small business in a small area of town."

Ferguson said along with the rewards of owning her own company have come all the challenges. Within the past seven years she has seen her business grow, but has had to put all her faith in a small town and herself.

"About two years after I opened my shop, I launched the Pulp Letter press and then I opened a little retail store in the front of my shop," Ferguson said. "Now, we have also opened a main social, which has intimate venues. Last year I realized I was juggling too much so we combined everything into one umbrella company, We + You."

Within the past year, Ferguson has seen more growth in her company, and she said she expects more to come.

Ferguson, who is a past president for the Old Town Business Association, said she has been a witness to the face-lift Old Town has received. She said she has gradually seen an interest from small businesses in other towns in Old Town.

"There was one business that was located in Flower Mound, but relocated to Old Town," Ferguson said. "It's been nice to acquire some new businesses instead of losing them to other cities. People are starting to take note that we have a viable area, and they're really excited about upcoming projects such as the Old Town plaza."

The Old Town plaza is a project planned for 2013 that will build a park right across from Lewisville City Hall. It will include a park, grassy areas and water features.

"Our goal for Old Town Lewisville is to make it a one-stop shop," said James Kunke, community relations and tourism director for Lewisville. "Things are picking up right now in Old Town, and it will only continue to grow."

Ferguson said over the next 18 months she believes Old Town will become a destination that can hold its own over nearby shopping centers such as Vista Ridge Mall and The Shops at Highland Village.

"OTBA has been able to recruit business and help with the revitalization," Ferguson said. "Our main efforts as retailers is to look at what we lack so we can keep growing the area, and our role as business owners is to help get other businesses here so the shoppers will follow."

For information visit www.otbalewisville.org.

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