Farm To Table
How One Family Wants to Open Up a Permanent Farmer's Market in Central. Plus: An Explosion of New Businesses Downtown and Practicing Community Civility
How’s this for good news? We finally have an agreement in place to sell the old laundromat on West Main Street…and I think you’re going to love the family-owned small business that will be moving in over the next few months.
It’s called Tiger Valley Market. If all goes according to plan, it will open its doors next March. Operated by Tim and Kathryn Gilstrap, who own Tiger Valley Farm near Pickens, last week submitted a contract proposal to the Mayor’s and Town Administrator’s office to lease the property (with the intent to purchase.)
At Tiger Valley Farm, the Gilstrap family cultivates and harvests high-quality, locally grown produce on their more than 50 acres of farmland. Next spring, their products—produce, eggs and dairy products, locally-sourced and free-range meat, seasonal flowers and plants and specialty items—will line the shelves of Tiger Valley Market, right here in Central.
During three discussions, Mr. Gilstrap inspired Council with his vision: “To connect local farms to the community by providing high-quality and locally-grown food at Tiger Valley Market. We want to celebrate local farmers and encourage people to eat and buy local.”
That’s why, last Monday, Council voted unanimously to approve a lease-purchase agreement that will see the Gilstrap family take over renovation and business operations at the old laundromat site.
Council is fully on board with his ideas of community (building and growing relationships between our Town and the farmers who are feeding people the right way); nutrition (positively impacting the health and diet of local residents by providing fresh, affordable and nutritious food to citizens across all socio-cultural levels); sustainable farming (valuing and protecting the environment for future generations through sustainable farming practices, recycling and composting); and customer service (where guests are treated with respect and a smile.)
The plan is for Tiger Valley Market to be open year-round, offering seasonable produce that is cultivated locally.
Council on September 12 will vote again (on second reading) to approve the lease-purchase ordinance. After that, we’ll hand over the keys and let the Gilstrap family get to work transforming what was once a building destined for demolition into what I think will be a crown jewel of our Main Street Business District.
Needless to say, as someone whose grandfather was a farmer and who bemoans the state of the modern American food supply and lack of fresh, local produce, I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Keep an eye out for more information in the weeks and months ahead.
Speaking of Tiger Valley Market, it will represent the fourth new business downtown over the last few months (Urban Central; Central Sweets; the Bee’s Knees Books and Toys; and AnMed Health Central Family Practice.) I gotta say, things are getting pretty exciting around here!
But we’re just getting started. Thanks to the hard work by Council, our Town Administration and Main Street Program Director Kathryn Brooks, we are starting to show real momentum in Central. But we can’t rest on our laurels. I truly believe better days are coming—so let’s roll up our sleeves and make it happen!
One last thing about the construction-noise discussion. The poll I put out last week is not scientific; it’s just a way to get a quick glimpse into what folks are thinking. I’ve heard from a lot of you on this issue, and I can assure you that your thoughts are welcomed and helpful. No one is making any rash decisions here.
As we work through the issue, I’m respectfully asking that those who feel strongly on this issue—those for whom it engenders a great deal of emotion—to please be respectful as you share your voice.
Again, I want to hear what you think. But we cannot have a repeat of our last Monday work session, with out-of-order conversations taking place and pointed words said. I made that clear with Council and the Town Administration, so it’s only fair to make that point as kindly (but strongly) as I can.
While I will always welcome comments from citizens, I will be reorganizing how those comments are received in public session to ensure everyone remains calm and respectful.
There’s too much political vitriol being spewed out these days, and it would be a shame if it found its way to Central. I promise to do my part to put a stop to it—and I’m asking you to do the same.
Thanks, all. See you next month.
Andrew Beckner
Mayor
Town of Central, SC
abeckner@cityofcentral.org