Downtown Rediscovered

By Kara Loftin

DOWNTOWN WAKE FOREST … FULL OF SMILING FACES, GREAT BUSINESSES, AND DELICIOUS RESTAURANTS (AND EVEN PLENTY OF PARKING!) AWAITING NEWCOMERS AND OL’ TIMERS ALIKE

There’s a Xhosa saying that means, roughly, “You must see to know,” meaning that you don’t truly understand something until you’ve seen it or been in that situation. 

mily, my wonderful guide as I researched my master’s thesis in Cape Town, South Africa, probably said that to me a hundred times during my three-week trip there last winter. Through her eyes and with her help, I learned a lot about South Africans, the country, and the world as a whole. I also like to think that she learned something from my fresh perspective on her homeland. Her patience with me, the American who’d never driven on the left side of the road, was unwavering and I’m convinced I wouldn’t have a master’s degree today without her help. Because of Emily, I know. I have at least an inkling of what the South Africans went through under apartheid and what they’ve been through since the end of apartheid. 

Now, a year after my last trek to South Africa, the situation has reversed. In January, I became the guide to three groups of students from the journalism school at UNC-Chapel Hill who began working on marketing and public relations plans for downtown Wake Forest and the Downtown Revitalization Corporation (DRC). I served as a graduate assistant for the professor while I was in graduate school and thought it would be good for the students, the DRC, and me to get a different perspective on downtown Wake Forest – what we are doing right and what could be improved. Through this process, I hope the students learned a lot about Wake Forest and marketing a small-town downtown. What surprised me was how much I learned about downtown Wake Forest. 

After 11 months of doing this job and nearly 20 years of living in Wake Forest, I thought I knew pretty much all there was to know about downtown and the town as a whole. I have seen it. I know. I can tell you anything about downtown, ranging from who works where, how many square feet most of the buildings are and who owns what building, to which trees need to be replaced, even down to where the uneven spots are in the sidewalks. But, through working with the students, I discovered I’ve become myopic. I know how great downtown is, so I assume that everyone knows how great it is. I know that there are plenty of parking places downtown, so I assume that everybody knows there’s no parking problem there. I feel comfortable walking downtown after dark, so I assume that’s true for everyone. However, over the last few months, I have found that not everyone knows what I know about downtown.

So, I’m taking a step back and regaining some perspective. I’ve found that I’m guilty of the same crime most everybody else is – getting in my own little rut and forgetting there’s a life outside of my little circle. When was the last time you visited downtown Wake Forest? Some of you may be new to the area and haven’t ever been. Maybe you have lived in Wake Forest for years, but haven’t been downtown in a while. Is a trip to downtown part of your normal routine? Did you know that there are four new businesses and a new restaurant open there? Are you aware there is plenty of parking? Did you know you can do any number of things there, including getting your car serviced, your hair cut, or buying birthday presents?

The goal I have made for myself for the summer is to work harder to spread the word to newcomers and “ol’ timers” alike about how wonderful downtown Wake Forest is. The businesses and restaurants are here, open, and doing well, and new businesses and restaurants are opening almost every month. More people are moving closer to downtown every day. When was the last time you saw this part of Wake Forest?
So this summer, step out of your normal routine. Even if you come downtown every day, take a step back, go into that shop you’ve never visited, and rediscover downtown Wake Forest. I guarantee you’ll find lots of smiling faces and plenty of parking places.

Kara Loftin is the downtown manager of the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation. She may be reached at 441-9551 or kara@wakeforestdowntown.com. Visit the DRC’s website at <www.wakeforestdowntown.com>.