Howell surging in USA Today top 10 main street contest
Reprinted from the Livingston Daily website!
Downtown Howell is a beautiful place, no doubt about it. And it’s catching the attention of travelers nationwide.
The county seat continued to surge today in a USA Today national main street contest, just ahead of Ann Arbor.
Howell has been nominated for USA Today’s “10 Best” list for favorite main street. Howell appears along with other cities like Alexandria, Virginia; Saratoga Springs, New York; and Charleston, South Carolina, just to name a few.
“Grand River Avenue, the main street in Howell and a finalist for the 2016 Great American Main Street Award, is home to numerous 100-year-old buildings that now house more than 40 unique shops and local eateries,” the voting website says. “This street is where you’ll find the Howell Opera House, as well as the popular 2FOGS Pub.”
Howell was in eighth place Tuesday and moved up a spot today. Staunton, Virginia, holds the top spot today, followed by McMinnville, Oregon; and Ogden, Utah. Howell is also ahead of Galena, Illinois, and Georgetown, Texas.
2FOGS Pub owner Joe Parker today said the Howell Main Street Downtown Development Authority and Howell Area Chamber of Commerce, along with his pub and Howell’s MainStreet Winery, Brewery & Pizzeria should receive some of the credit for making the downtown a great place.
“Howell, to me, has been just sleeping a little bit, and it’s waking up,” Parker said. “With the influx of people moving out here, I just think they’re finding just a great way of life.
“It’s helping and almost forcing downtown Howell to wake up and grow,” he added. “There’s so much going on here. It’s a wonderful place.”
According to the best main street contest site, more than 40 main streets were discussed and were pared down to 20.
You have until noon June 20 to cast your vote for favorite main street, and possibly move Howell to the top. You can vote once per day.
Click here to vote or visit www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-main-street/howell-mich/.
USA Today contributed to this report. Contact Livingston Daily business reporter Noe Hernandez at 517-552-2854 or nhernandez@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @sayyesnoe.