Opinion: Downtown mix growing to suit diverse audience

Churches and entrepreneurs are challenging that notion and expanding the target demographics to offer more options for socializing and shopping.

Reaching out

Second Baptist Church ventured outside its East Battlefield Road home to open Bellwether Gallery in the Monarch Art Factory. In addition to featuring local artists, it’s a place for live music during First Friday Art Walk. The church also moved its Christmas musical to the newly renovated Gillioz Theatre, bringing thousands of its members and guests to enjoy great music and drama in the historic venue.

The Front Porch is a Christian coffee house scheduled to open in August next door to Ernie Biggs Piano Bar. It will be open for lunch and dinner and have a stage for live music every week.

The Skinny Improv moved this past year into a larger facility on Park Central East at Robberson Alley. Owner Jeff Jenkins said, “We wanted to make a family-friendly safe place that everyone can enjoy. You don’t have to worry about being embarrassed about the content of the comedy.”

The new location allows more customers to attend their improvisational shows, but it also houses a new church – Emmaus – which has approximately 150 people attending each week.

While that congregation is just starting, Christ Episcopal, founded in 1859, is completing a $4 million renovation and expansion project on East Walnut Street. Architecturally attaching a family life center to the historic sanctuary will aid worship services and social activities.

Family-friendly entrepreneurs

Private businesses also are creating areas for center city residents and workers of all ages to come together.

The Mudhouse brought the coffeehouse culture to downtown Springfield several years ago with its unique blend of hot and cold beverages, wireless Internet and eclectic atmosphere. Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar opened on Commercial Street in May and has quickly become a hub of activity for those on Commercial and in nearby Midtown, Grant Beach and Woodland Heights neighborhoods.

Children may not be looking for their morning coffee, but they have options of their own.

They can host their birthday parties in royal style as a princess at Ellie-berry Pie on Park Central West or as the vintage video game wizard at 1984’s expanded birthday party area on Jefferson Avenue. Guests looking to purchase the perfect present for the birthday boy or girl can go to Gadgets, Gizmos and More, the Discovery Center gift shop and toy store owned by Gold Minds.

The party can wrap up with free movies at Founders Park on Fridays and Saturdays in July and August.

Another classic example of the expanding downtown demographics was the July 20 release of the final Harry Potter book. Hundreds of fans ranging from children to grandparents made the pilgrimage to Campbell Avenue to see Well Fed Head bookstore transform into the Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes Shop, where 200 copies of the Potter book were snatched up at midnight.

Springfield Hot Glass became Ollivander’s, Makers of Fine Wands.

Moxie Cinema morphed into The Leaky Cauldron, showing “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” to a sold-out crowd.

And new business Czar Graphics changed to Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions, selling 200 ready-made and custom T-shirts to the Potter faithful.

Center city is truly becoming a vibrant and inviting place for the young – and the young at heart.

Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.