FLORENCE — Lined with flowers, cast-iron tables and other whimsical objects; downtown Florence has become a bustling destination.
For the last few years, Florence’s Main Street has seen multiple successful businesses opening up. The newest addition will be the Florence Brewing Company, opening May 14.
Keith Larsen, president of Florence’s Chamber of Commerce, said that the momentum for growing business has been huge.
Larsen said that the city of Florence has been working together to attract business to open in Florence and that those who have located to Florence are attracted to the small town atmosphere.
“This is a town where everyone knows everyone,” Larsen said, adding that idea has attracted people to Florence.
He said that the strong sense of community is something that people are looking for and the community in return has been a large factor in the success of the Main Street businesses.
“One of the things we’ve got in Florence, that’s made our Main Street businesses successful, is loyalty,” Larsen said, explaining that the people of Florence show their support by returning back to each restaurant and each shop.
Florence City Manager Mike Patterson also said that a huge factor in Florence’s Main Street being successful is the city working together to welcome new businesses.
“When a business comes to Florence we want them here,” Patterson said. “My focus is how to make that business more successful.”
When asked why Florence’s Main Street would appear to be more successful than Cañon City’s Main Street, Larsen and Patterson both said that construction that shut down much of Cañon City’s Main Street last fall wasn’t helpful.
But, both also agreed that Cañon City would be successful in the future.
“The momentum we have here is fantastic, and we’re not focused on what Cañon is doing,” Larsen said.
However, Patterson said that he is happy to see when a new business opens in Cañon City.
“We’re happy for Cañon. We want to partner with Cañon and attract more people to all of Fremont County,” he said.
Larsen said another key thing that has made Florence successful is finding the city’s identity.
“We are the antique capital of Colorado and people recognize and come here for that,” Larsen said.
Patterson said that the city has had seven consecutive months of records sales tax. He said the increased marketing of the antique shops in Florence has attributed to the increased sales tax.
Others around the town echoed Larsen and Patterson, saying the community and promotion of Florence has fueled the city’s success.
“We are a thriving, booming town. I’d say part of our success is that Florence has a theme, the antique capital of Colorado,” said Florence Mayor Keith Ore.
“The town itself makes it successful,” he said.
Jana Hagen, manager at Papa’s Restaurant, said that the community is what draws you in.
“Businesses are drawn here I think because of the strong sense of community,” Hagen said, adding that she found her own Stars Hollow, a fictional small-town from the television show Gilmore Girls.
“You just feel a complete sense of community and everyone rallies around each other to make each other a success.”
Sarah Matott: matotts@canoncitydailyrecord.com
