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Anne Bradstreet wrote, "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant." I’m not sure she envisioned a two-year global pandemic when she put pen to paper, but if you ask me, our past challenges make this spring that much more pleasant.


It’s time to tuck away the long sleeves for a while and get out to enjoy the beautiful spring days. MidTown Momentum charged forward on March 5th, when about 100 MidTown neighbors came out to hear a variety of great music at our first Tiny Stage Concert– kicking off with Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park.” It was delightful to watch people of all ages enjoy live music played from the confines of the little Red Frame in Lakebottom Park. Best of all, we have three more planned concerts; the next is May 7th and will showcase Spanish and American folk music. So mark it down, get your folding chair ready, and we’ll see you there.


There are encouraging signs for commercial momentum, too, as you’ll read below a description of two new developments in our featured article.


We’ll be working to keep that momentum going with our upcoming MidTown programs and initiatives. Our fourth annual Clean MidTown event on April 23rd furthers our work to sustain and enhance MidTown neighborhoods. We’re revamping the event itself to make it more enduring – and more visible to the community. We will be landscaping the pocket park at Wynnton Road and Forest Avenue, the gateway corner of Wynnton and Hilton Avenue and the decorative planters along Wynnton Road. Join us with your creative ideas, or just your garden spade and sweat equity. We’ll be providing guidance and lunch! Check out the full details below on how to participate.


Some other great chances to get out and commune with your fellow MidTowners are just ahead, including:

  • May 7: Tiny Stage Concert Series (2 of 4) at the Red Frame in Lakebottom
  • May 15: MidTown GetDown concert at Lakebottom Band Shelter.
  • May 26: MidTown BikeAround in celebration of National Bicycle Month.


Thank you for your continued support. Through your attendance at these events or even just through your presence in MidTown, you play an active role in making a diverse and energized place to live and work. We couldn’t do it without you!


With sunniest spring regards,

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Julio A. Portillo, Jr.

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The Midtown Shopping Center and Richard Waddell

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It seems very appropriate to feature the Midtown Shopping Center, located on the south side of Macon Road, just west of I185, in our Business Spotlight this month, and equally appropriate to feature Richard Waddell, Managing Partner for Midtown Associates-the Georgia Limited Partnership that owns the Midtown Shopping Center and 29 adjacent acres- in our Donor Spotlight.


The Midtown Shopping Center has overgone a huge transformation over the past several years, remodeling and acquiring a variety of national tenants, including Ross Dress for Less, Beall’s, Shoe Carnival, and Dollar Tree during Phase 1 in 2015. They recently have negotiated and signed two very popular stores-Starbucks and Aldi-both guaranteed to attract a tremendous customer base and contribute to MidTown’s forward momentum.


Many older Columbus residents actively enjoyed the wide variety of tenants in and around the shopping center during the 60s, 70s and 80s-playing putt putt, dining at Shoney’s and The Hungry Hunter, line dancing at Memory Lane, and hopping on a burlap bag for a quick ride down The Giant Slide, just to name a few.  

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Photo credit Facebook's Early Columbus Georgia and the Chattahoochee Valley

Most of our readers are familiar with Starbucks, which started in Seattle, Washington a little over fifty years ago as a roaster and retailer of whole beans, ground coffee, tea and spices that now boasts over 30,000 retail stores in 83 markets. Selecting the MidTown Shopping Center as a site for Starbucks is an indication that the area has experienced great economic growth. Starbucks has strict location requirements for median

household income, proximity to employment districts, morning commute numbers, and nearby retail to guarantee foot traffic patterns. MidTown residents will undoubtedly be lined up when the store opens in late April to early May.


Aldi may be a little less known. The privately owned company was founded in Germany in 1961 by the Albrecht Family. In 1976, they opened their first American store in Iowa.

The company has grown to more than 2,000 stores across 36 states. Their corporate philosophy emphasizes sustainability, community, diversity, equity and inclusion. They have a simple retail grocery model to keep overhead low and product quality high, to then pass the savings on to their customers. More than 90% of their products have been hand-selected , curated and tested to meet or exceed the national brands in taste, quality, and price. They rather famously “rent” their grocery carts for a quarter which is refunded when you return the cart after shopping. MidTown will happily welcome Aldi to the neighborhood sometime in July.

 

Richard Waddell’s involvement with MidTown, Inc. began when we began: He served as a founding board member for what was then known as The MidTown Project, the precursor for MidTown, Inc. He and his family just recently gifted over 7 and a half acres of their property behind the shopping center to the YMCA of Columbus, Georgia to build an additional MidTown location, demonstrating their belief in the YMCA’s cause to invest in youth development, healthy living and strengthening our community. He has always generously supported our organization with annual donations. Richard is an avid University of Georgia fan, loves quail hunting, hiking, tennis, biking, and travels extensively with his beloved wife, Katie, and their children and grandchildren. His modesty, quick wit, winning smile and philanthropy are an asset to MidTown and to the entire Columbus community.

 

We will keep you posted when we know the exact opening dates for Starbucks and Aldi. In the meantime, support the MidTown Shopping Center by patronizing any of their restaurant and retail outlets. And if you run into Richard, be sure to thank him for sustaining and enhancing the neighborhoods and businesses in MidTown.  

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Click on the image for more information!

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For friends you think could use a lift,

Please consider a MidTown gift!


To shop, click here.

MidTown, Inc. is funded entirely through private and foundation gifts, grants, and our sole fund-raising event, the MidTown Mingle. This is an exciting time of growth for our community, but we cannot do it without you. Please consider making a contribution to help us advance our mission to “Make MidTown EVEN Better”!



To donate, click here.

Make a Donation


Thank you for reading MidTown Momentum!


MidTown, Inc.: Sustaining and enhancing the neighborhoods and businesses in MidTown Columbus

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MidTown, Inc.

1236 Wildwood Avenue Columbus, GA 31906

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