Last Saturday, Downtown Marion opened its doors to some of its most fascinating behind the scenes spaces, and the community showed up. Dozens of locals and visitors joined the Lofty Spaces & Unique Places Tour organized by Downtown Marion, Inc., exploring a mix of historic gems and exciting new developments.
On our side, we were thrilled to feature Connect Coworx, the upcoming Whit’s Frozen Custard and apartment spaces in The Lydia, our Flying Fish Airbnb, and the Downtown Beauty Collective which includes Beyond Beauty Lounge, Amanda Renee Esthetics, and Elevate Hair and Beauty Loft. Guests even sampled locally made wines from Blend of Seven Winery, one of our tenants at 146 W. Center St.
This event holds a special place in my heart. Back in 2017, attending a loft tour like this one sparked my own passion for downtown development. It ultimately led to the creation of Main Street Reimagined in 2018 and, since then, to the saving and restoration of nearly twenty downtown Marion buildings. That year, Lois Fisher had recently finished the first phase of Flying Fish Lofts on the third floor of the historic Eagles Building. Fast forward to today and Henry Development Group purchased that same building two years ago, completed phase two of Flying Fish Lofts last year, and one of those units, now a furnished Airbnb, was proudly featured on this year’s tour. This building also now houses first floor businesses including Attaboys Comfort Cuisine, Foxglove Hollow Home Décor, and another business to be officially announced very soon!
What I love about the Lofty Spaces and Unique Places Tour is that it feels like a giant, real life “show and tell” for our community. Our team members and volunteers were stationed at each location to share the history, the projects, and the vision for what is ahead. Seeing people’s eyes light up as they recognize the treasures we have right here in our own hometown never gets old. These tours remind us of how far we have come and the exciting projects still to come, while inspiring pride in the spaces and places that make Marion unique.
As I reflected afterward, I thought about how events like this are more than tours. They are reminders of what is possible when we invest in our community, take pride in our spaces, and dream together about the future. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this year’s event. If you missed it, we hope you will join us next time and experience for yourself the energy and creativity that continue to shape Downtown Marion.
Wedding season is in full swing! If you or someone you know is getting married at The Brickyard, Urban501, or in the surrounding area, send them to our luxuriously updated lofts! It’s the perfect wedding stay, only steps away from two venues downtown! Book with us and pop the champagne, your wedding weekend just got so much better.
Occupation: Executive Director for the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Are you from Marion? I am MarionMade — born and raised here. When I got married, I moved away from Marion for 13 years but relocated back home in 1993 when my husband became pastor of a local church. So I’ve been in Marion 52 of my 65 years.
What started your business venture? I first came to work in Downtown Marion as a part time ticket agent at the Palace Theatre. In 2021, I was retiring after having the privilege of working for the theatre for 22 years. My plan was to stay home a few months and then find some meaningful part time work. The Convention and Visitors Bureau board approached me after I announced my retirement and asked if I’d consider taking the role as executive director for the CVB, and as they say, the rest is history. I’m grateful that the CVB relocated Downtown in that same timeframe, which allowed me to continue working in the heart of the city.
What is your favorite thing about downtown Marion?
My favorite thing is that I get to be here every day. Working downtown gives me a front row seat to all the great things happening in the downtown district. I love the walkability. I love being in close proximity to many of the people I work and collaborate with on a daily basis. I also love the Cardinal Project.
Favorite downtown place to eat or drink? Why?
That’s a tough question to answer! I have favorite dishes at all the downtown restaurants, so it just depends on what I’m hungry for. For starters, I love the club at Mike’s Deli, homemade chips at Marcella’s, pizza at Bucci’s, sweet honey chicken sandwich at Attaboys, pulled pork at Ray Ray’s, and birria bowl at Taco Central. Should I keep going?!? And The Remnant is my go to coffee shop.
Favorite downtown place to shop? Why?
Where I shop is based on who I’m shopping for. My personal favorite for clothes is Southern Accents. I found beautiful bird pictures for my living room at Foxglove Hollow. I buy a lot of gift giving items at Spruce and Sparrow or Elena Renee and gifts for my grandkids at Lulu’s.
Favorite thing to do downtown? Why?
I love working downtown. It gives me the opportunity to check in with community partners and interact with business owners and operators on a daily basis. I do it because I think it’s important that those who are making big investments in our community know that they are supported.
What’s a ‘Behind The Trade’ secret? When I took this position four years ago, I was approached about maintaining a community calendar on our website. We jumped at the idea and have enjoyed working over the past three years to curate a thorough calendar of all that’s happening in and around the county. If you plan events or operate an attraction, we invite you to submit your events through a super simple website form at www.visitmarionohio.com. Simply hover over the Things To Do tab and click on Submit Event. That information supplies content for our monthly newsletters and our social media channels. Everyone is invited to sign up for our free newsletter through the website. Also follow us on social media for “What’s Happening in Marion this Weekend posts every Friday (FB facebook.com/VisitMarionOhio and IG visitmarionohio). We’re here to help spread the word about all there is to see and do in Marion!
The Lofty Spaces and Unique Places Tour reminds us that downtown Marion is not just a collection of buildings. It is a living, breathing story of people, passion, and possibility. Seeing our neighbors and visitors step into these restored spaces and imagine what is ahead reinforces why we do this work in the first place. Leaders like Bev Ford at the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau amplify that story every day by helping connect people with our community’s treasures and by keeping us informed about all that is happening here. Her decades of service
and love for this place are exactly what make Marion’s revival real and lasting.
As you invite friends, family, or business associates to Marion, consider sharing this story with them firsthand. Encourage them to visit our local shops and restaurants, attend our events, and stay in one of our downtown Airbnbs where they can experience the heart of Marion up close. Every tour, every stay, and every meal downtown is an investment in the kind of future we want to build together…a community where we are proud not only of our history but also of the places
and experiences we create for generations to come.
Better Together,
Luke Henry Col 3:23
