Macon Magazine

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 | maconmagazine.com 37 In this series, we turn to the passionate Maconites, those who call this vibrant city home, to curate their very own guides to experiencing downtown Macon. Whether you are a resident seeking to rediscover your city or a curious visitor eager to immerse yourself in the local culture, these guides will open doors to new ideas and lasting memories. Discover what defines downtown Macon: from feeling the energy of our bustling streets and exploring historic landmarks to savoring the mouthwatering cuisine and engaging with the vibrant arts and music scene. We''ll let the insiders share more. Insider guides to Downtown Macon IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWTOWN MACON My Macon ASHLEY PANCAKE is the local artist behind Rox & Ren hand-painted hats, the plus-size buyer for Frankie's Boutique on Cherry Street, and a stylist at B. Monroe Salon. Read her My Macon guide to glimpse how optimism, warmth, and passionate creativity have led this Oregonian to feel perfectly at home in our beautiful city. + How long have you lived in Macon? I've been in Middle Georgia for about 7 years now. I'm originally from Portland, Oregon, and moved to the area after meeting my (now) husband online. + What do you love most about downtown Macon? I love all of the locally owned businesses. It's real people, with real passions, doing really incredible work. I appreciate all the uniqueness and individuality that each brick-and-mortar brings. You can see their personality when you walk through the doors. Whether it's food, clothes, bars, records, flowers, coffee, bakery, etc., they are all run by dreamers, and it brings me great joy every time I get the chance to support them. + Tell us about your experience as the plus-size buyer for Frankie's Boutique. What added value have you brought to the store? When Abby (Frankie's owner and my BFF) came to me wanting to expand the store's inclusion for all size options, I was thrilled. We understood the need in having something for everyone - as clothing wears differently on all body types. One size certainly doesn't fit all. We are all unique and deserve a wardrobe that reflects who we are. However, it's not always easy. We do our best to shop from retailers that offer a wide variety of sizes but even in 2023, most boutique buying markets or vendors don't offer plus sizes, or extra small sizes, for that matter. It's also important to note that we don't overbuy or reorder items because we want to ensure that when you shop at Frankie's, you're getting a look that's entirely your own. This makes our already difficult buying process that much more challenging. We spend hours and hours searching for individual items for the store with our guests in mind. Our customers come in excited to shop with us. They know they will find something that's beautifully interesting. We hope our efforts have made shopping – something that can be so scary or difficult for some – exceptionally magical. Clothes can bring such confidence to a person. We'd love nothing more than to help others see the value they hold. + Can you tell us more about how to shop small for fashion and beauty downtown? I am a huge supporter of shopping small, especially in Macon! I recently launched a small business myself called Rox & Ren which I started through Frankie's - hand painting and now styling Nashville-inspired hats and pop-up hat bars. Frankie's has been and continues to be an incredible host not only for my small business but others as well. Petals, Poplar St. Farmers Market, Fall Line, 7th Street, and so many others all host local small businesses which in turn is helping our surrounding community grow. It's inspiring. I firmly believe in "community over competition" and I'm thankful to work with so many companies that have the same values. + What do you recommend people do to find their place in Downtown Macon? The simplest and easiest thing you can do to find your place is to be yourself and do what you love. Your people will find you. Maybe you're a coffee enthusiast, a vintage vinyl collector, a pizza connoisseur, a karaoke songbird; your people will find you. There's something for everyone in Downtown Macon, but if you're still unsure, try something new! You may discover a passion or hobby you've never thought to pursue. + What is the one thing you wish more people knew about Downtown Macon? I wish more people saw the love this city has. Not just under the twinkling lights of the Christmas Extravaganza, or the Pinkest Party on Earth during Cherry Blossom, or even the Macon Beer Festival. There is kindness and community and love in the simple day-to-day ... and extra when you're at brunch on Sunday! Can I get an amen? Most of all I hope to encourage more people to experience it for themselves. Join us downtown; we're out here Macon memories. NewTown Macon is an independent nonprofit making Downtown Macon safe, beautiful, fun, affordable, and locally led. Their comprehensive approach to downtown development has resulted in 80% storefront occupancy, 94% loft occupancy, and 1M+ annual event attendance.

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