Branson Enters Agritourism With Farmer's Market This Weekend

The old rural tradition of the Farmers Market returns to the heart of Ozark
Mountain County in Historic Downtown Branson near the Lake Taneycomo waterfront starting on Saturday, May 24.

The market will be conducted between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. Saturday until up through Saturday, Oct. 4 except for Saturday, May 17 and will be conveniently located the parking lot at the corner of Pacific Street and Business Highway 65 in historic downtown Branson.

It is sponsored by the Historic Downtown Branson Business Owners Association (HDBB), an association of businesses in historic downtown Branson made up of business owners and operators. The Farmers Market will feature fresh produce and locally produced crafts.

To insure the quality of the produce sold at the market, all the produce sold must be grown by the people selling it and within 100 miles of Branson. In addition, all the crafts sold at the market must be non jewelry and produced by the crafters, who must demonstrate the craft while at the
market.

Cindy Brooks of Clocker’s Restaurant and David King of Branson Bill’s Emporium, both located in historic downtown Branson, are the coordinators for HDBB on the market. King said that they are excited by the event and that it will be held for 24 consecutive Saturdays except for Saturday, May 17. Plumb Nellie Days will be held in downtown Branson on that date.

He pointed out that they will strive to have a mix of vegetables and other farm grown products with about a 20 percent mix of crafts. King indicated that the crafters for the event would be very carefully selected and, for the most part, would be those performing or demonstrating their craft on site and said that anyone interested in selling at the market or needing additional information may contact at Cindy Brooks at 417-335-2328 or him at 417-335-5281.

Email Webmaster@bransondowntown

Prepared by Gary Groman and David King

Historic Downtown Branson

 

Merchants in Downtown Branson formed an organization last year to combat a sluggish economy and to return the thriving economy Downtown merchants once experienced.

In a sense, Downtown Branson is the anchor tenant of Branson. Times change and with it the Branson landscape changes. New additions to Branson sway the focus of marketing groups and organizations towards the new to bring in new customers.

This summer, the Downtown Branson Merchants are bringing new outdoor events including a farmer's market. To help with the launch, a new site for Downtown Branson is in development. Later this week, a press release will be generated to launch the developing Downtown Branson website. The site is being designed to let visitors know what the Historic District in Downtown Branson has to offer.

Downtown Branson Main Street Association Members vote to Discontinue Membership model

Historic Downtown Branson is much like many downtown districts in Missouri and throughout the United States. However, unlike many downtown districts, Downtown Branson has a heart that still beats. Though numbers overall are down...today is different - downtown is alive with seniors with little to no appetite for the latest brassiere innovations peddled down the street at Victoria Secret.

New TIF funded developments have taken a piece of the tourist pie, yet if you walked outside today you wouldn't know the depth of suffering the merchants have endured. It's bustling today.

The Downtown Branson Main Street Association met in a small room near Business 65. The board of directors has been whittled down from seven to three members. The two full time employees are leaving for jobs with the state and the membership model that exists today looks like it's on the way out.

The tally wasn't read but a representative of the board said votes were in favor of the organization moving away from a membership model.

Though I'm not sure what exactly the remaining members of the board are hoping to evolve too - one thing is for certain - a planned coup by some of the downtown merchants seems to be impossible.

AS I walk into the small room I'm met with something foreign to me as I show interest in the organization - kindness. It's refreshing because the intensity of interactions with the "keepers of the record" hasn't been pleasant lately. It's a welcomed change.

The board goes into closed session - since I'm the only one present that isn't on the board - I'm the only one that leaves. Before I go, I remind the board of the merchants - they've been innovating - they are the largest stakeholders - they care about the fate of our historic downtown as the fate of the district determines what bread they'll have on their table.

I run into Jeff Justus on the street after the closed session is over. Justus, uncle of Missouri Senator Jolie Justus, tells me of his connection with the land we stand on. He recalls his great grandfather who spent his life working just two blocks from our sidewalk debate. Sidenote - he worked two years short of a pension.

His name means something, one of the few families whose name is inscribed on the original documents that changed Lucia to Branson.

Four new members of the board must be chosen and if wisely selected an opportunity exists to mend a divided sub-culture in Branson.

Downtown Branson Main Street Association Fate Discussed Tue 11:30

The Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA) issued a voting form to members last week in hopes of privatizing the organization. Business owners accusing the DBMA of ignoring the voices of downtown merchants caused tension resulting in the creation of a break-away organization earlier this year.

The current state of the DBMA is unknown as they are the second worst violators of the Sunshine Law in our area.

A sunshine request made Friday revealed several members of the Board of Directors jumped ship over the past few weeks.

Results from the vote to privatize the DBMA and discard the membership model will be read at the 11:30 meeting.

An announcement that the leadership team of the DBMA has accepted new positions with the state is foreshadowing that the attempt to take the DBMA out of the arms of members was a failure.

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Downtown Branson Main Street Association Resignations

Phyllis VanderNaald and Gayla Roten have reportedly left the Downtown Main Street Association turning in resignations today. Breaking....

Downtown Branson Merchants Meet

 

Mayor Raeanne Presley presence at the Historic Downtown Branson Business Owner's (HDBBO) Association meeting last night recieved a loud round of applause and thanks from merchants and came off as a community organizer (low quality film will be published later this afternoon). Alderman Sandra Williams was also in attendance.
Plans to create a Branson Starwalk, similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame was one of the items discussed.

Gary Groman (seen above) covered the story for the Branson Daily Independent (finally).

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High-five to the merchants trying to make a difference in downtown. The community is behind you.

Downtown Branson Main Street Association Members Not Wanted

 

The document above (click to enlarge) was distributed by the Downtown Branson Main Street Association before a vote to elect new board members ensued.
Members will be able to vote yes or no on whether to continue a membership model.
The Historic Downtown Branson Buisness Owners Association (HDBBA), a group of merchants who formed a competing organization to meet the needs of business owners in the downtwon district, began implementing their own strategies to promote downtown which included an advertising run on cable television. The HDBBA extended their contract with OnMedia this week.
A segment of the group promised to re-join the DBMA before members of the board were re-elected. The HDBBA was founded to take matters into their own hands believing the current management wasn't meeting the needs of business owners.
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Representatives from the Downtown Business Owners Association weren't available to speak at press time.
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Cowboy walks through Downtown Branson

 

Just an interesting photo for you. A man dressed like an outlaw of past randomly walks down the street in Downtown Branson, Mo.

Historic Downtown Branson Business Owners

 

The Historic Downtown Branson Business Owner's association (HDBBO) established a booth at the Branson Convention Center which will host a grand opening event for the public at 4:30 today.
The booths were granted to area business's at a low cost - $100 a booth + $200 for electricity.
The HDBBO was founded by Historic Downtown Branson business owners who experienced a downswing in business over the last two years. The owners felt their interests weren't being fully represented by the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA).
Since they started just a few months ago they've launched an advertising campaign on cable television, started a bus greeting program and created a walking map of downtown Branson. The group is hopeful the convention center will help bring more traffic to the historic district. The groups efforts have been for the most part ignored by the mainstream media.

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The DBMA has promoted Downtown Branson for many years with a long list of successes. The HDBBO has a place as well. Their existence has motivated the the DBMA to become a better customer service organization.
When covering the story about the HDBBO for the Branson Daily Independent I was threatened by an employee of the competing organization who didn't want the history recorded.
The story was "mild" and encouraged inclusion and cooperation - a philosophy I believe could help both organizations today.
The threat reminded me of a reality - the importance of reporting truth and barriers journalists must face if they truly desire to serve the public.

Skateboarding is a crime in Historic Downtown Branson

The first reading of a bill making skateboarding a crime in Historic Downtown Branson will be read at Branson's alderman meeting tonight.

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An alternative proposal making Historic Downtown Branson a "high ollie zone" will not be presented tonight.
Branson is the only city in Taney County that has a city skate park. The halfpipe can be used by rollerblade and skate enthusiasts free of charge.