Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1474181
Developing their new storefront will fix that, with plenty of space for more crates of vinyl for customers to peruse. Dantzler and Rutledge are Macon-born and bred, and as natives, they feel a real responsibility towards their neighbors in the music scene. "If someone needs a mic stand for a concert at 11 p.m., they know they can call us," Rutledge said. A funky record store feels like a quintessentially downtown adventure, leading Rogers to her final reason that locally-led revitalization is important: it preserves character. In fact, just two doors down from Fresh Produce on Cherry Street will be a new location for Christèle and Ariane Parham, a couple who are already downtown residents. As innovative founders of Macon Black Tech and HamTech Solutions, the two have seen the importance of creating a safe space in the tech community. Now, the Parhams are launching a new space, CrateX, which will be labs for digital nomads looking for community while working in and on their business. Jones's building is barely a block over, housing a combination of a retail boutique, her chiropractic practice and a residential loft. These kinds of unique offerings on Cherry Street alone highlight exactly why encouraging locals to be developers will keep the downtown Macon experience fresh and forward-looking. Rogers states, "It's what makes you distinctive." "THEY ARE READY TO PLANT THEIR ROOTS AND DIG INTO MAKING DOWNTOWN A MORE DYNAMIC PLACE." — BETHANY ROGERS 47