As local business owners share their stories , it ’ s easy to see why early settlers fell in love with these communities and why today they ’ re among the must-see places to visit in Volusia County .
DeLand : Preserving the Past , Investing in the Future
In 2019 the City of DeLand held workshops to update its 2050 Vision Plan , but this wasn ’ t the first time the municipality had looked to the future .
A decade ago , leaders committed to preserving the area ’ s ample natural resources , while focusing on redevelopment and expansion in their historic downtown area . Enjoying the benefits of being a university town – Stetson University is located on Woodland Boulevard , along the same stretch of roadway leading directly into the core of the city ’ s historic downtown area –– you can ’ t visit Stetson and not make a trip downtown .
Visitors find the locally-owned shops and boutiques charming in an “ era of days gone ” by kind of way . In the days of e-commerce , it ’ s refreshing to find an actual brick and mortar florist and a bookshop within the historic corridor .
Dining options are built around the historic courthouse in the district and the fresh-from-scratch menus are a point of pride for local restaurateurs like Florida native Melisa Reed , owner of the southern-inspired restaurant , The Table , which is located at one of the busiest intersections downtown .
Melisa and her husband Melisa Reed
Dan fell in love with the historic district and the possibilities in 2011 . They first purchased the entertainment venue Café DaVinci and have continued to invest in the community since .
FEBRUARY 2021 | 9 |