ROCKWALL, TX – February 4, 2022 — Beginning in March, the Downtown Rockwall Association will support around 40 of its individual business members through special Anniversary Spotlight events. Two Saturdays a month, an individual business will be chosen and spotlighted to celebrate its business anniversary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“It’s a fun way to support these businesses by allowing them the opportunity to celebrate their day,” said Tammy Mancuso, the owner of CertaPro Painters and who has been a member of the DRA for several years. “The business can do raffles, giveaways, door prizes – whatever they want – and we’ll be their cheerleaders by helping to promote and support their event.”
The Downtown Rockwall Association is a group of local business owners who work together towards a common goal – getting more folks to shop local.
The DRA meets monthly to coordinate events to promote foot traffic and sales in Rockwall’s downtown district. DRA members work in conjunction with city and county government toward the continued revitalization of downtown, promote business opportunities and tourism for the good of the community, and market their members’ businesses that are new to downtown Rockwall.
The DRA also gives its members a prime opportunity to network and engage with one another. They can share ideas on how to help grow downtown businesses in an environment that supports collaboration and building off each other’s suggestions. It’s a fantastic way
for businesses that are new to downtown to get involved in their community and foster relationships.
“I have loved managing a business in the downtown area because I get to feel that thriving energy and give it back to the community, as do many of the downtown members,” Mancuso said. “Being a part of the DRA has allowed me to be more aware of what’s happening in downtown, and I love being able to go help out during events.”
The business anniversary spotlights are just one of many ways the DRA has helped keep the downtown district of Rockwall thriving and vibrant for the community. Through its collaboration with the Rockwall Main Street and Rockwall County government, the DRA provides numerous family fun events throughout the year to give visitors to the Historic Downtown Square a memorable and enjoyable experience.
The San Jacinto Plaza Music Series held on Friday and Saturday evenings from May through October invites the community to enjoy free live music downtown, with local restaurants, public parking and public restrooms all within walking distance.
The Rockwall Farmers Market, held annually from May through September on the Historic Downtown Square, has become a Saturday morning staple for Rockwall residents and nonresidents alike. The market was established in 2008 by nonprofit Friends of Downtown Rockwall and has been named one of the best Farmers Markets in Dallas with its vast selection of fresh produce, specialty foods, grass-fed beef, fresh baked artisan breads, free range eggs, local honey, jams and more.
Another fun-filled annual Saturday event hosted by the DRA and Rockwall Main Street is Shop Small Saturday, when shoppers can enjoy lots of special promotions and save big on one-of-a-kind items all day long.
Through the Christmas holidays, the DRA organized a Holiday Open House where downtown shops kicked off the holiday shopping season with jolly good sips, sweets and specials served until 9 p.m. The DRA continued to spread the holiday cheer with its annual Holiday Homes Tour, inviting folks to visit beautiful homes in Rockwall all decked out for Christmas.
Bethany Browning, manager of the City of Rockwall’s Main Street programming, said the crowds drawn to the downtown area from these events have been monumental for local shops and the local economy.
“Those types of events were created with that in mind – to encourage more people to shop local,” Browning said. “Rockwall residents love to support these events because they like seeing their friends and family. For our shopping events, people will often plan ahead for those and spend the whole day shopping in downtown. Because of that, the shops see a lot of sales from those events.”
The Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with the DRA to provide a fun and rewarding way for folks to spend their money locally. Through their Downtown Rockwall Dollars initiative, you can send some Downtown Rockwall Dollars to a friend or yourself to spend at any of the 20 participating businesses located on the Downtown Square. The program works great for birthdays, holidays, teacher or customer appreciation, or as just a nice surprise for a friend or loved one. For more information visit the program’s website at
app.yiftee.com/gift-card/rockwall-downtown-dollars-rockwall.
The Rockwall Chamber and the Downtown Rockwall Association have partnered to encourage folks to shop local through the Downtown Rockwall Dollars program, featuring these participating merchants.
Ami Kristin Studio (104 E. Rusk St.)
AvaRey (106 North San Jacinto)
Bellas House (206 E. Rusk St.)
Certa Pro Painters (204 North Fannin)
Groovys (110 E. Rusk St.)
Hansel and Her (218 E. Rusk St.)
Hello Gorgeous Blowouts (109 N. Goliad)
J10 Design (180 North San Jacinto)
Kitschy Cupboard (114 North San Jacinto)
Lakeside Florist (506 N. Goliad)
Rockwall Drug and General (106 South Goliad)
Simply Kate (210 E. Rusk St.)
Southern Roots (102 E. Rusk St.)
T&T Color Supply (202 North Fannin)
Texas Traditions Home & Gifts (114 East Rusk St.)
The Downing Bottles and Bites (106 South San Jacinto)
The Shoppe on Goliad (116 South Goliad)
The Southern Porch (204A S Fannin Street)
Wren + Willow (306 E Washington St., Suite A)
Zanata (202 E Rusk St.)
Every dollar you spend at that local “mom-and-pop” store you love not only helps to keep its doors open, it’s also a direct investment into your own community. When you spend money locally, it goes directly back into making your community a better place to live, work and play. You’re also more likely to find all kinds of specialty merchandise you won’t find elsewhere when shopping local businesses downtown. The retail stores dotting the downtown square are stocked with everything from designer jeans to furniture, antiques to year-round Christmas decorations and gifts for all of life’s occasions.
“Shopping local means customers receive a personal experience and are provided with unique items not available just anywhere,” Browning said. “Our shop owners are versed in their products and provide one-to-one service that can’t be found in many box stores or online. “When you buy local, your money stays local and goes back to the local economy, thus making Rockwall a better place to live.”
Stay tuned to the DRA’s Facebook page (@downtownrockwall) and Blue Ribbon News to see what stores are offering for their business anniversary spotlight this spring!
Sponsored article, written by Austin Wells. Photos by Austin Wells.
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