Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

TRYON—On Monday evening, the Tryon Downtown Development Association held its annual meeting, bringing the community together to celebrate achievements, announce new board members, present awards, and engage in a panel discussion on economic development.

The gathering took place at the Fitzgerald, a newly opened event center located at 69 Pacolet St., featuring 5,500 square feet of renovated space. The event commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the venue’s grand opening.

Building owner and developer Allan Casavant expressed his enthusiasm for the newly opened venue. 

“It’s great to have everyone here tonight to get a first look at the Fitzgerald,” he said. “It promises to be a place where people can come for all events, such as meetings, parties, and weddings. It is also a membership club with member-only events held every second Sunday.”

Owner/Operator Ashley Menetre said of the grand opening, “We’re really excited to finally open the doors to the public, and we look forward to hosting a lot of diverse events here at the Fitzgerald.”

After the ribbon cutting, attendees took time to socialize and take a look at the new venue before moving on to the business at hand, beginning with the announcement of the new Board of Directors, consisting of Kevin Parker, President; Wanda May, Secretary; James Cullen, Treasurer; Denny Crowe, Vice President; Tanisha Akinloye, Organization; Ryan Mesa, economic development; Carri Bass, Promotion; Matt Rappoli, economic growth and Harriet Hudson, Design.

During the “TDDA Year in Review” segment, attendees celebrated the 30th anniversary of the organization’s efforts in downtown Tryon. Significant renovations and building repurposing have revitalized the area, contributing to a rebound of local businesses post-COVID. New enterprises are now calling downtown home, with successful Fourth Friday events driving foot traffic. 

Among the highlights discussed were the revival of the April Fools Festival, spearheaded by community member Sam Bell, and the upcoming 13th annual Tryon Beer Fest. The TDDA also collaborated with town officials on various projects and maintained long standing traditions with Halloween, Christmas, and New Year’s festivities.

Wanda May and TDDA Director Lourdes Gutierrez then presented awards to several local business owners and volunteers, including Peter Eisenbrown (promotion for Summer Tracks), Allan Casavant (Economic Development), Sam Slade of Valhalla Cakes (Urban Design), Alexander Page and Vincent Martinez of Mirrorball Gallery (Urban Design) and Terri Mckinney (Economic Development). 

The TDDA aims to increase community exposure and attract visitors downtown, with recent initiatives including design plans for landscaping improvements, reviewing downtown ordinances, and creating more community spaces.

The event also focused on the TDDA’s participation in the Main Street America program, which seeks to revitalize towns through economic development while valuing historic preservation. Tryon is recognized as a designated NC Main Street community, receiving support from the TDDA to implement strategies.

This past year, downtown Tryon saw $3,630,000 in public and private investments, including enhancements to nine buildings.

The evening concluded with a special panel discussion titled “Economic Development in Downtown Tryon,” moderated by Kevin Parker. The panel included Sherry Adams, Dr. Warren Carson, Allan Casavant, Mike Karaman and Julia Calhoun, who explored various topics related to the future of Tryon’s downtown area.

As Tryon looks ahead, the collective vision and efforts of the TDDA and the community continue to drive the mission of revitalizing and preserving its unique charm and economic vitality.