BY JIMMY SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
Onancock Main Street is in the midst of a program aimed at filling unoccupied storefronts and stimulating interest in the town’s economy.
The Open for Business program is bringing existing business owners together in an effort to attract more interest in the town’s empty commercial spaces.
“Everyone agrees that filling empty storefronts is a priority to stimulate economic vitality in Onancock,” said Cindy Mackey, chair of the Onancock Main Street Economic Vitality Committee.
The program began in 2024 when Onancock Main Street sent out a survey to local business owners, residents, and visitors.
The survey, which received over 400 responses, revealed that a priority among those who completed it was to fill empty storefronts, Mackey said.
To make the unoccupied storefronts more appealing to potentially interested parties, window installations like paintings were featured in the spaces.
Keith Andes, owner of Driftwood and Moss in Onancock, did the installations on 20 Market St. and 51 Market St.; Hilary Hartnett-Wilson, executive director of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society, did the 9 North St. installation; local artist Jacquelyn Bizzoto did the installation at 4 North St.; and Maggie Stodghill did the installation at 11 North St.
Onancock Main Street also gave a combined $43,236 in grant funds to 13 business owners for public-facing improvements, like brickwork, painting, entryways, and more.
The program received funding from grants from Virginia Main Street, of which Onancock is a part, and the town of Onancock last year.
Onancock Main Street has also hosted five workshops for local businesses in the past year on topics like retail trends, marketing, tourism, and more.
“There’s already been tremendous momentum in town and visible results,” Mackey said.
Onancock is further encouraging those interested in starting businesses on experienceonancock.com, where available commercial real estate can be found.
The results of the 2024 survey for what types of businesses people want to see in the town can also be seen, with the top 10 most common answers listed.
So far, the campaign is creating positive results and participation.
“We have heard that several new businesses are in the works, and we will be announcing these when appropriate,” Mackey said.
