By Sierra Lauder
Director of Events and Downtown Promotion
Last month at the Chamber Headquarters at 208 Main Ave. we had the pleasure of hosting “Mornings on Main Street.” Around 20 people gathered to share coffee, treats and great discussion about all the activity in the downtown area. Lots of the conversation stemmed from the construction along the sidewalks of Pacific and the “Second Street Plaza.” I use quotations around “Second Street Plaza,” because the City of Tillamook’s Beautification Committee is entertaining possible names for the project. They will be narrowing the results at the next Beautification Meeting on April 10th, so if you have an idea to toss in the hat, contact City Hall or let us know at the Chamber and we’ll pass it along. There is some discussion of taking the top four choices and having a public vote. Look forward to that!
Construction projects within buildings were also a big topic of discussion. How could they not be, when the gathering was held within the freshly framed walls of the future offices for the Chamber? The Chamber project is zipping along, with electric and heating work wrapping up this week and sheet rocking kicking off next week. The Visitor’s Center will be fully operational in plenty of time for summer. Art Accelerated Board Chair Neal Lemery shared about the grants that they have been working on for improvements to the Beal’s Building, where they are hoping to start classes and workshops in the near future, as well as open for regular hours for the gallery. After banter about the facelift that is taking place in the old Murphy’s Furniture Building on First St. to accommodate a new T-Mobile store, and a report on the remodeling of the Blue Moon, Phil and Nelia from the Pacific Restaurant invited the entire group across the street and took us through the new restaurant space. Let me just give you this sneak peek: It. Is. Gorgeous.
We very much enjoyed this Mornings on Main Street event. Starting in May, the Chamber will be hosting these gatherings each month, on the third Tuesday of the month. While we invite you to contact us anytime with questions, thoughts or ideas, these member open house opportunities are a really easy way to connect with the projects the Chamber has going on, and a low pressure way to engage with others in the business community.
A quick update on upcoming events: it is Dairy Madness at the Chamber! The June Dairy Parade and Festival is set for June 24th. Entry forms for the June Dairy Parade will be going out early next week, and the coloring contest is OPEN. The parade route will be changing this year, and we will be working hard in the next few months to make sure that the information about the new route is available to everyone. The parade will now be STARTING at the high school, marching north up Main Ave., turning right and heading east on Third St. and disbanding at Goodspeed Park. We will be taking advantage of the open Second Street to host a large family friendly Dairy Festival.
Cork & Brew tickets will go on sale online April 10th! The Cork & Brew Tour takes place on June 16th, the Friday before Father’s Day.
If you have questions about these events or just want to talk Tillamook, feel free to call me at the Chamber (503) 842-7525, or email me at sierra@tillamookchamber.org.