The newly formed Monmouth One Voice for Everyone group continues to meet in a roundtable type atmosphere with an emphasis toward revitalizing the downtown. Brad Ray, M.O.V.E. member says momentum is key to revitalization:
“We have a quadrant on the square where we have a wine shop, some businesses here, a bakery that is now opening. This little corner of the square is a good example of what can happen in a relatively short amount of time with some momentum and guidance. You look at the southwest corner of the square, where we have the Buchanan Center of the Arts and some improvements there with the Pattee Plaza and things like that, and the library. Those things spread quickly. We already have little microcosms of how this idea works if we can continue to build on that,” Ray shares.
Over the next twelve to eighteen months, Monmouth will see new restaurants with the opening of a bar and grill in the old Petey’s location, an Arby’s, two new restaurants in the Love’s Travel Stop and a downtown restaurant known as the Patton Brew Pub and Grill on the square.
