tory — while still working to accommodate growth and the future — has been noticed .
But what makes Thomasville so special , Flowers admits , is a sense of je ne sais quois — a quality that cannot be named or defined easily .
“ Downtown Thomasville is a very special place but you can ’ t quite put your finger on it ,” Flowers said . “ The things that make our community special are really hard to pin point . If you ask six people what makes Thomasville special you might get six different answers and they ’ d all be correct .
“ It ’ s a feeling you get , it ’ s a smile you get , it ’ s a comfort that people feel when they ’ re here because we have taken very good care of what was left to us .”
One attribute that has connected Thomasville throughout the ages is its hospitality , Flowers said . It ’ s something he hears when he talks to others about the Rose City .
“ If you go back to the hotel era and the resort era , even today , that hospitality shines through . I think there is a mindset and a commitment to others , particularly when you are downtown ” he said , “ It is common for me to speak to visitors and for them to say , ‘ I can ’ t believe how friendly this place is .’ And it think it ’ s genuine .
“ There is an authenticity there because of preservation and caring individuals who came along to save what was there and not let it get away ,” Flowers continued . “ But that authenticity and historic preservation only provides a platform for the people . We have extraordinary people in Thomasville who are just welcoming and wonderful ambassadors .”
But Flowers may not even be the most recognizable member of his family , or the most warmly greeted face of the city . That distinction could very well belong to Rhodes , who is 7-and-a-half years old and loves to wag his tail upon seeing a friendly face .
And loves to go for rides in Flowers ’ distinctive two-seater yellow car .
18 April | May 2022 Thomasville Scene