Serendipity on the Square

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The square that borders the Bedford County Courthouse features a wide variety of shops and panoramas, including this tree-lined view of the brick sidewalk on the south side reminding the photographer of similar vistas in Alexandria, Va.
(T-G Photo by Kent Flanagan) [Order this photo]

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on t-g.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

That's a great pic!

It not only looks like places in Alexandria,it resembles the area around the Coffee Break here in Bedford County.

(Maybe,people elsewhere are copying more than just our central courthouse square design when creating the hubs of their communities.)

Why wouldn't we be emulated?

We have an attractive area that beckons with terrific businesses.

All we have to do is preserve its best elements and see that it evolves in a way that respects the past and welcomes a creative and thriving future.

-- Posted by quantumcat on Thu, Aug 20, 2009, at 9:47 AM

I agree quantumcat . . . I actually thought it was a picture of the area around Coffee Break until I read the information underneath. LOL!

I agree that our square has so much potential and some people have capitalized on that but there is definitely some work that still needs to be done. I would love to see the popcorn stand open again and more downtown events held.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Thu, Aug 20, 2009, at 10:06 AM

Um, it is the area surrounding the Coffee Break, isn't it?

I think he was thinking "Shelbyville" when he typed Shelby County, instead of Bedford.

I would also love to see the popcorn stand reopened!

-- Posted by Nobody'sFool on Thu, Aug 20, 2009, at 10:54 AM

And apparently, we were all correct, because the caption has now been changed. lol

-- Posted by Nobody'sFool on Thu, Aug 20, 2009, at 10:55 AM

According to the City Manager and the Zoning Office, the popcorn stand is not allow to operate on the square. The popcorn stand would need a Transient Vendors permit from the City and the County before it could be opened and the Zoning would not permit it.

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Thu, Aug 20, 2009, at 4:13 PM

A lot of towns are going back to the old look.

-- Posted by michaelbell on Thu, Aug 20, 2009, at 5:44 PM

What a waste of a great thing...(Popcorn stand). Leave it to the idiots up on the hill to NOT allow something that could potentially RAMP the popularity of the square and the surrounding shops. Ridiculous.

-- Posted by driedleaves on Fri, Aug 21, 2009, at 6:53 AM

And a free ad for a coffee shop...

-- Posted by grandpat on Fri, Aug 21, 2009, at 7:08 AM

That is such a shame Evil Monkey . . . having the popcorn stand open would definitely add traffic and a little more character to the square. I remember my father use to get me popcorn there when I was a little kid and have fond memories of that.

-- Posted by jaxspike on Fri, Aug 21, 2009, at 2:15 PM

jaxspike,

Yep, real sad because according to the City Manager ALL mobile vendors even if they live here have to pay 105 dollars every 14 days for her "permits" which is a bunch of poppycock because it isn't a permit, it is a tax.

The transient vendors tax is for Out-of-State vendors that won't pay. But if you are a state resident that owns a mobile cart, that shouldn't apply to you. Not only have I talked with the State about this, they have already stated it was illegal for the City Manager to force this unneeded tax on business owners.

This is why we have no new ideas, no businesses, or other enterprising options coming to Shelbyville TN. This is why I moved my business to Nashville. That is where I spend my money.

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Fri, Aug 21, 2009, at 6:25 PM