During the ‘Small Town Feel and Sense of Community’ Task force meeting in late July, the task force members concluded that Smithville’s downtown should have a ‘vibrant and classic’ feel and atmosphere. They believe that this would appeal to both residents and visitors. Now we want to better understand what ‘vibrant and classic’ means to you!
“How do we make Smithville Downtown’s feel and atmosphere be ‘Vibrant and Classic’?”
‘Small-town feel’ experience triggers sensations of:
- Nostalgia and relaxation
- Unique and interesting
- Connectivity and fun
- Intriguing and vibrant
- Intimacy and aliveness
We would love to hear your thoughts!
How do we make Smithville Downtown’s feel and atmosphere be ‘Vibrant and Classic’?
Would love to see an old-school cigar lounge for gentlemen in the town to gather and hang,
You need something for the younger generation of adults who live here. Currently the bar seen is bud lite and middle aged. Everything closes by what, 10? That’s not the bedtime of a downtown that wants to invite folks to hang out and stay. That’s not fun, interesting, or aliveness. A nice pub with a good selection of craft beers, decent menu, darts, pool, maybe a couple arcade games. Cafe with high speed internet and plenty of space for everyone to chill and work. Students can work on homework in a place like this. People came play table top games there. A dog park and some dog friendly places will bring an entire population into Smithville. Monthly street parties. Bars, restaurants, and vendors hang out curbside with street food and specials. It’s a lake town right? There should be places that will make people stop in and hang out after a day on the lake. Because right now we’re the town everyone hates to drive through because there’s nothing to do and the speed limits are slow. Everything is directed towards country folks, which is where we are, so yeah makes sense. If you want people to come and spend their money here, you need to put things people want to spend money on. And that’s not a used bike shop and a single school specific apparel store.
Holly! I love your input! Thank you! Just as an FYI, there is a coffee shop called Cornerstone Coffee scheduled for soft opening this coming weekend (9/4 and 9/5). They are located at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street downtown. Also,, Humphrey’s Bar and Grill is set to open soon on the corner opposite of Cornerstone Coffee – they will offer man tap beers as well as some “nightlife.” Additionally – there are several boutiques and stores offering apparel and home decor (new boutique clothing and several schools and teams). Are there any other suggestions for our downtown? We would love to hear them via this forum or if you would like to attend a meeting with Downtown Smithville Main Street. We meet once a month, the third Thursday at 5:30pm, usually at Chop’s event space. Thank you so much, Alicia Neth VP Downtown Smithville Main Street & EDC Chair.
Smithville needs a community center, with pool. Some place for families, we have bars and eating establishments. There needs to be things to do allowed in. Bowling alley, skate rink, something…
Hello Melissa! Thank you so much for your input! A community center is something that has been on the radar of our city for several year and they do take all suggestions seriously. It’s just something that takes time to raise funds for, etc. I love the idea of skate rink and actually our downtown group has considered getting a “rental skating rink” to go on the bricks of the courtyard square during the winter. Is that something you think people would enjoy?
Thank you so much, Alicia Neth VP Downtown Smithville Main Street & EDC Chair
Tear down the dilapidated (hospital?) building that is boarded up and falling in. It is an eyesore for the whole downtown area.
The store fronts rented / sold to real estate, lawyers, churches, insurances, alterations, photographer, so this is never going to be a quaint shopping destination. Most of the retail here is not upscale – and is it economically feasible to expect new retail?
This is a daytime town. Why not embrace the Lake? Include
> A wide, paved walking and bike LOOP trail from Smith Forks area to downtown?
> A fantastic playground, not just a bit of new playground equipment. There are NO really great playgrounds near here.
> How about a splash pad or pool or lazy river?
> A nice deli – food trucks.
> A community garden area along the way.
> Skateboard park for older kids
> Opportunity for Saturday Farmer’s Market, music and entertainment
> Bike, roller blade, kayak, paddle board rentals positioned in the DD-Dam road location. The trail head would be here.
Make Smithville a place where families and couples wanting to enjoy nature drive north to the Lake.. Take a long loop walk or bike into town, deli lunch and ice cream with picnic tables on the square. Have paddle boats in the lake, kayak – food trucks near by.
Let the current restaurant locations continue to thrive or close and open just as they have always have. Continue to work to add a the craft beer bars, and other destinations for the younger locals to visit after the sun goes down.
Hi Marcia!
Thank you so much for the wonderful responses, we really appreciate the detailed suggestions! I wanted to reply to you with my knowledge (for what it’s worth) of the downtown and city developments. See my responses with asterisks below your points. I have shared this link with all of our downtown business owners and trust me, we all take considerations into your suggestions. Keep in mind, many of the businesses are merely renting space from a building owner so a big part of what goes in to a vacant space downtown is at the discretion of the property owner.
Tear down the dilapidated (hospital?) building that is boarded up and falling in. It is an eyesore for the whole downtown area.
**The hospital is privately owned but the city is aware it is an eyesore (they look at it every day, yikes!) so it’s definitely on the radar to be evaluated in some fashion.
The store fronts rented / sold to real estate, lawyers, churches, insurances, alterations, photographer, so this is never going to be a quaint shopping destination. Most of the retail here is not upscale – and is it economically feasible to expect new retail?
**We like a variety as much as anyone else. There are many retail businesses available on both North and South Bridge Street. What additional types of retail stores would you like to see?
This is a daytime town. Why not embrace the Lake? Include
> A wide, paved walking and bike LOOP trail from Smith Forks area to downtown?
**The trails are a HUGE part of our comprehensive planning process. Thursday night would be a great night for you to join the Zoom call for Parks and Rec type ideas and suggestions! We have also discussed a “river walk” type of option for different areas of town that would meet up near the downtown. What do you think of this idea?
> A fantastic playground, not just a bit of new playground equipment. There are NO really great playgrounds near here.
** See above Zoom suggestion, we also have a brand new playground at Heritage Park.
> How about a splash pad or pool or lazy river?
**There is a splash pad opening on the north end of town!
> A nice deli – food trucks.
**there is a coffee shop called Cornerstone Coffee scheduled for soft opening this coming weekend (9/4 and 9/5). They are located at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street downtown. Also,, Humphrey’s Bar and Grill is set to open soon on the corner opposite of Cornerstone Coffee – they will offer man tap beers as well as some “nightlife.”
> A community garden area along the way.
**Our Clay County 4H is working with MO Eats to help with a community garden or edible trail. Amy Hill is an organizer of that and she would be wonderful to speak with, as well as Sarah Ulledahl at Chop’s BBQ.
> Skateboard park for older kids
** I’m not an expert on skateboarding, we do have a skate park at Smithsfork, is it not ideal for older kids? Do we need to look at expanding?
> Opportunity for Saturday Farmer’s Market, music and entertainment
**Last year the Farmers and Makers Market attempted a Saturday Market and it didn’t go over well. They have a Facebook group if you or anyone you know would like to help organize it? Perhaps a fresh set of eyes would help?
> Bike, roller blade, kayak, paddle board rentals positioned in the DD-Dam road location. The trail head would be here.
**We do have Northland Outdoor Adventures Rentals – should they look at a better location?
Make Smithville a place where families and couples wanting to enjoy nature drive north to the Lake.. Take a long loop walk or bike into town, deli lunch and ice cream with picnic tables on the square. Have paddle boats in the lake, kayak – food trucks near by.
Let the current restaurant locations continue to thrive or close and open just as they have always have. Continue to work to add a the craft beer bars, and other destinations for the younger locals to visit after the sun goes down.
Thank you for your fantastic comments. They are so in-depth and thoughtful. Keep the ideas coming!
I think on the outside of the businesses a nice colorful trim would really make the businesses logos shine. Adding some mosaics and murals would really brighten up some empty walls. You can make these murals based on some of Smithville’s past, certain icons that are worthy and send positive messages, or maybe old postcard look for Smithville. I defiantly agree with a place for students and for people that aren’t closed past 10. I think as long as we keep up with the fun activities that Parks and Recreation set up then we are making amazing strides forward. So thank you Parks and Recreation for everything you’ve been doing because I’ve noticed it and the advertisements look amazing!
Thank you for the response Allyson!
Our Downtown Smithville Main Street group has discussed murals and we actually have a few in the works! There is a coffee shop called Cornerstone Coffee scheduled for soft opening this coming weekend (9/4 and 9/5). They are located at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street downtown. Also,, Humphrey’s Bar and Grill is set to open soon on the corner opposite of Cornerstone Coffee – they will offer man tap beers as well as some “nightlife.”
Smithville is an amazing city! It has a small, downtown feel, along with friendly people and a beautiful lake. I think it would be beneficial to update the downtown area. It would be great to have more businesses in the empty tenant spaces and have an updated downtown aesthetic, such as updating the paint or signage to all look more uniform or each shop have a unique look. Here are some business ideas, that would help the city flourish, even more: Juice Bar (Fresh-squeezed juices), Coffee Shop (where local bands could come and play/students could study/cool place to hang out), Paint and Sip (a business where you would paint a canvas, while drinking wine), Kombucha Bar (Sells Kombucha on tap), Wine Bar, Yoga Studio, Pilates Studio and/or Plant Shop. The health and wellness industry would modernize downtown and the different types of entertainment would entice the younger demographic to travel to Smithville. It would in turn provide ROI and also provide more employment opportunities for citizens of Smithville.
As far as the lake…. it seriously is so gorgeous and the lake brings people to Smithville all throughout Missouri. To make improvements with the lake; it would not only bring more people traffic, but more money and more jobs to the people who live in Smithville. It would be great to have the ability to rent Stand Up Paddleboards, Kayak’s, Canoes and more; so many people are taking advantage of being outside more, especially since Quarantine, and would be a nice way to stay active and healthy. It would also be wonderful to have a few bars/restaurants that could sit on the water. It’s fun to either rent a boat or a kayak for the day and then sit down and listen to live music with a beverage in your hand, while watching the sun set over the lake… priceless! I am sending all the positive thoughts and look forward to all the improvements in the future!
Alyssa, thank you for taking the time to provide feedback! I love your suggestions for downtown businesses! Our Downtown Smithville Main Street group has discussed murals and we actually have a few in the works! There is a coffee shop called Cornerstone Coffee scheduled for soft opening this coming weekend (9/4 and 9/5). They are located at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street downtown. Also,, Humphrey’s Bar and Grill is set to open soon on the corner opposite of Cornerstone Coffee – they will offer man tap beers as well as some “nightlife.”We do have Kelly’s Nook which is a paint studio and you can certainly book parties to paint and drink wine! Please feel free to contact her! The lake does have Northland Outdoor Adventures which offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, are you suggesting it be located closer to the Sand Bar on the lake? We have also entertained the idea of a “river walk” which would offer amenities as the trails get closer to our downtown core – doesn’t that sound awesome? One of the upcoming Zoom calls for our comprehensive plan is for Parks and Rec this Thursday if you would like to join? We would love to have additional input from you!
Thank you so much, Alicia Neth VP Downtown Smithville Main Street & EDC Chair
Yes! Develop the lake! Grew up in Michigan with a lake that had a paid parking lot ($1.50 per car back then -we crammed in) that opened up at 7 am and closed at 11 pm. A Snack bar off the lot (toward the lake) also rented the canoes, kayaks and paddle boats. Started as a food truck and later looked like the snack bar at a drive-in. Eventually had bathrooms with an outdoor shower on either side of the snack bar. Then there was a large grassy hill that lead down to the beach and the water. in Gates were open in the winter, but not the snack bar. Picnic areas were off the bathrooms on either side but farther back from the beach to enclose the beach area. Families came during the day to grill and swim and young people came in the evening to use the fire pits as tiny bonfires and hang out. It all started with a food truck and canoes. Maybe hold weekend events with a minor entry fee per car at different areas around the lake and send out food trucks from 10 to 3 to see how it goes. Fishing picnics, community picnics, yard, game picnics. Stuff like that where you bring your own food and supplies, pay $5 a car to get in and share with everyone else there when you get there.
Would like to see small businesses around the square and a block back in every direction, then community center, pool, skate park, Chicken and Pickle type places out on 169. We need a Chicken and Pickle up here – get on it. Yeah, that would be great.
More garden produce at the Farmers Market on Wednesdays since it’s more of a Crafter’s Market now. Maybe pay for prime area in the square, but let others without the money to pay for a space set up in areas around the square so more people are drawn into town.
SIGNS on 169 advertising the Farmers Market, OLD TOWN and Smithville Lake Dam at Main/DD and 169.
Develop Heritage Park to draw people toward the lake. Add a few grills and picnic tables. A DOG PARK! Put a dog park in Heritage Park!
I hear a walking trail to the lake is in the works. I’m hoping it’s on the south side of Main. I HATE mowing the slope in the front of my house and the tree is really over grown, but I can’t afford to get it taken down. Build a sidewalk, grade the front of the yard, take the tree out of the wires (and out of my yard) and set one of those park benches out there. I’ll pick up the trash when I get my mail.
Alyssa, thank you for taking the time to provide feedback! I love your suggestions for downtown businesses! Our Downtown Smithville Main Street group has discussed murals and we actually have a few in the works! There is a coffee shop called Cornerstone Coffee scheduled for soft opening this coming weekend (9/4 and 9/5). They are located at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street downtown. Also,, Humphrey’s Bar and Grill is set to open soon on the corner opposite of Cornerstone Coffee – they will offer man tap beers as well as some “nightlife.”We do have Kelly’s Nook which is a paint studio and you can certainly book parties to paint and drink wine! Please feel free to contact her! The lake does have Northland Outdoor Adventures which offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, are you suggesting it be located closer to the Sand Bar on the lake? We have also entertained the idea of a “river walk” which would offer amenities as the trails get closer to our downtown core – doesn’t that sound awesome? One of the upcoming Zoom calls for our comprehensive plan is for Parks and Rec this Thursday if you would like to join? We would love to have additional input from you!
Thank you so much, Alicia Neth VP Downtown Smithville Main Street & EDC Chair
It’s wonderful to see such interest and interaction! The suggestions indicate an enthusiastic support of a vibrant down town. Love it! Alicia N.’s responses have been gracious and informative. There seems to be a recurrent theme…. many people are not aware of what is already in place! Perhaps more promotion of existing amenities would help? I’ve spent many wonderful hours at Kelly’s Nook! It’s a lovely place and adaptable. If you are looking for one on one…a Zen experience…you have it. If you have a group who want to have a paint party…you can do that. If you want to engage children in art and experience creativity… you can do that too.
I’m looking forward to enjoying coffee and hot chocolate at the new corner coffee cafe! There are some wonderful store fronts that offer ‘upscale” goods for home decorating, gifts etc. I used to go to Parkville for my “boutique fix”. Smithville is becoming a wonderful place to browse…get ideas and enjoy the ambiance of small town America. Future prospects are bright!