22 ND AVENUE REVITALIZATION
Story by Glenda Sanders
Photo by Thomas Howard
Downtown ’ s main gateway awakens with new life
Robin Hull remembers downtown Meridian being an exciting place to shop when she was a young girl especially on Saturday mornings .
Marks Rothenberg Department Store , Lerner ’ s , Watson ’ s Shoes , JC Penney , Sears , JJ Newberry ’ s , S . H . Kress & Co . — all were located along or within walking distance of downtown ’ s main thoroughfare , 22nd Avenue .
“ I was raised in Meridian ,” said Hull , who owns The Robin ’ s Nest at the corner of Fourth Street and 22nd Ave . “ I remember shopping downtown as a child in Meridian , and how you would come down on Saturday and everybody you know would be downtown .”
Hull sees that enthusiasm dawning once again in the Queen City , which is the main reason she decided to move her gift shop downtown .
“ I want to see Meridian grow , and I felt like downtown was where the growth was taking place ,” she said . “ With the opening of the MAX and the children ’ s museum and the
Threefoot Hotel , all of the entertainment that they are bringing in to the Riley Center , the Threefoot Brewery , everything is just coming together . I just felt like this was probably the most vital place to be in Meridian right now .”
Downtown ’ s revitalization is most noticeable along 22nd Avenue , long considered the gateway from the interstate to the city ’ s historic business and shopping district .
Standing atop the avenue ’ s main bridge that passes over the railroad tracks , one senses an awakening happening on both the north and south ends of the thoroughfare .
“ It is beautiful going over the bridge back and forth ,” said Leon Powell , owner of The Island 601 on Fifth Street across from the MSU Riley Center . “ It looks nice downtown , and that definitely adds value to us as business owners .”
Coming north over the bridge , travelers are greeted by restored noble buildings , brightly painted murals , inviting store fronts , stringed lights and neon signs .
Look south from atop the bridge and one sees progress .
8 • MERIDIAN LIFE