Uptown Marion prepares for a wave of openings

By Adam Moore, CBJ on Small Business | Thursday, March 24, 2016

It will be a busy spring in Marion, as no fewer than eight businesses are slated to open or expand in the city’s Uptown District.

Among the new businesses scheduled to open or expand in April are:
Cranky’s Uptown Bicycles (1170 Seventh Ave.), a full-service bike shop
Desert Frog (1090 Seventh Ave., Ste. 100), a retailer and producer of bath and body care products
Uptown Snug (760 11th St.), a casual pub located in the back of a restored historic building
Another Road Brewing (631 Ninth St.), which is relocating and expanding from its prior space at 1175 Eighth Ave.
May will see the opening of the Eclipse Trading Post (777 11th St.), which will offer ethically traded, earth-friendly goods, and Fashion Par Kitchens (1246 Seventh Ave.), which focuses on custom cabinetry for both new construction and remodels.

Kazoo Photography, which was formerly at 1090 Seventh Ave., will also unveil an expanded studio space at 1308 Eighth Ave., with a grand opening planned for May 21. Google Nail Spa (1121 Seventh Ave.) will open sometime in the coming months, although a date has not yet been set.

Ali’s Weeds Floral & Gift Boutique (524 10th St.) and South Miami Formal Fashions (786 Eighth Ave.) have also both relocated within the district in recent weeks. South Miami will hold a ribbon-cutting tomorrow at noon to mark its arrival.

“There’s definitely a buzz and a desire to relocate uptown, with the investment we’ve seen,” said Uptown Marion Director Ashley Zierath.

She noted that the district has seen $6.8 million in private investment since becoming a Main Street Iowa community in 2013, and that a recent commercial real estate showcase in the city drew more than 70 people – more than double the number who attended in 2014. More public infrastructure work and the launch of the city’s ImaginArt in the Alleys initiative this summer will drive even more business development and traffic, she said.

For more information on the coming businesses, visit the Uptown Marion website.

Website | PDF