Vision Arts Eyecare is December's Business of the Month!

The final Business of the Month for 2013 goes to a long-standing and respected member of the Brick District, Vision Arts Eyecare Center. They are located at 614 Market Street in Fulton.

Back in 1992, Dr. James Vann and his wife, Cindy, purchased the practice from Dr. Richard White. In August 1993, Vision Arts moved to its current location and has not looked back. Dr. Vann is an important member of the Fulton community, as he is a part of the Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce, Fulton Breakfast Optimists and a former board member of the Callaway County YMCA. He received an Honors degree in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1986, and earned his Doctorate in Optometry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1990.

At Vision Arts Eyecare Center, their mission is to provide high quality personalized eye care through their exceptional service and state-of-the-art technology. In fact, in 2005 Vision Arts was awarded Business of the Year by the Fulton Area Development Corporation.

Currently, Vision Arts is running a few promotions which are going through the end of the year. If you have purchased eyewear anytime in 2013, you can come in and get a 40% savings on a complete pair. Also, to provide for Serve's Food Bank, you can donate 10 cans of food or a $10 donation and receive $10 off your purchase! Hopefully you can get in and take advantage of these limited offers!

If you are interested in visiting Vision Arts, their current hours of operation are:

Monday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

of if you would like to make an appointment, be sure to give them a call at (573) 642-6800.

You can also visit their website at http://www.visionartseyecare.com/ or like them on Facebook!

First Thursday's Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!

This Thursday, December 5th, is the First Thursday of the month, which means it is time for an ugly Christmas Sweater Party! From 5 to 8pm, Smockingbird's will be celebrating the event by giving customers 25% off for wearing a christmas sweater. Contact your favorite Brick District business to see if they will be apart of the event as well.

As part of the event, Santa will be making his second trip to the Brick District! He will be located in the Lobby portion of the Fulton Cafe at 529 Court Street. As always, those who bring their camera can take pictures with Santa for free!

On a side note, Central Bank is offering free gift wrap to anyone who brings in a receipt for an item purchased from a Brick District business! Customers much have purchased their item between Small Business Saturday and December 6th, which is last day the offer will be available. Get an early start on your present preparations with free gift wrap from Central Bank!

We look forward to seeing you at our First Thursday Christmas Sweater Party! For more information and updates on events in the Brick District, check the Brick District Facebook page or visit us at http://thebrickdistrict.tripod.com/.

November's Business of the Month: Mints 'N More, LLC

Another business was celebrating its one-year anniversary in the Brick District, and this month it was Mints 'N More. Originally located on the north end of Fulton under the name Cake Creations, the company moved to its new location at 518 Court Street, and the new name was Mints 'N More. The owner, Lanette Kielbasa, changed the name to Mints 'N More as a way of paying tribute to the cream cheese mint recipe she got from her mother.

If you have not had the chance to order from Mints 'N More, there is no better time than now. They offer a number of products, including:

• Cookies
• Wedding Cakes
• Assorted Treats
• Traditional Cakes
• Cake Boxes
• Decorations (sprinkles, flavorings, ribbons)

For Black Friday, Mints 'N More offered their delicious homestyle cookies, as well as an even sweeter deal. The bakery was offering 25% off Christmas cookie orders, and may still run the deal thorugh the early part of this week, so make sure to stop by or give them a call to inquire about it.

For more information about Mint 'N More, visit their website at www.mintsnmore.net, or give them a call at (573) 592-8885.

Don't Miss These Specials Right Now!

The Holiday Open House has gotten off to a great start, as there are plenty of folks getting out and doing some shopping. And who can blame them! There are great deals going on right now, and they will only be around for this event, so be sure to come out and give them a look. Here are some of the current updates and specials going on right now:

• Smockingbird's will have snacks, refreshments, & giveaways this evening.
• Tropical Sno will be open selling hot chocolate!
• Center Court will be offering 20% OFF custom monogrammed sweatshirts.
• Red Cross Pharmacy will be offering select gift items up to 75% off.
• Fulton Cafe & Gift shop will be offering 25% off clothes, books & toys and 50% off shoes & accessories.
• Well Read is offering 25% off new books, cards, toys, calendars and most gift items when you spend $50 or more.
• Divine Shoe will be offering 15% OFF everything and 50% off on select items.
• Ellie's Attic will be offering 10% off everything in the store, with select vendors 20% OFF. They will also have frozen drinks and snack tonight.

And that's not even all of the specials going on right now, so make sure you get to the Brick District this weekend and you won't be disappointed.

Also, just a reminder, the Candy Cane House will be open tonight from 5pm-8pm, out in front of the old theater on Court Street.

J&R Carriages will also be giving out carriage rides tonight. Rides will be $5 a person and they will be located on the west side of Court Street.

We hope everyone will come out and join us this weekend as we welcome in the holiday months with our annual Holiday Open House!

Mark Your Calendars for Next Week's Holiday Open House!



We hope you all enjoyed the Fall Harvest Festival! We saw plenty of familiar faces out there, and we hope for the same when we have our Holiday Open House! This event has become an annual tradition here in The Brick District, and it will begin Friday, November 15th starting at 10am.

Once the shops open at 10am, you have all day in order to register for the chance to win one of four $100 Brick District Shopping Spree gift certificates! In order to enter the drawing you must be at least 18 years of age, and be present at the time of the drawing, which will occur later that evening.


Check out some of the events at this year's Open House:

5pm: Window unveiling

5:30 - 8:30pm: J&R Carriages will join us

7pm:  Music

8pm: Gift Certificate drawing
(in front of Center Court, must be 18 yrs and present to win)

As always, kettle corn and cocoa will be available!












Also, this year we will once again be having our Candy Cane House. They are currently putting the finishing touches on it, so be sure to bring your kids out for some fun! They will be able to walk through the house and pick out a candy cane, which in turn will correspond with the prize they receive at the end.

Santa will be there as well! Kids will be able to take pictures with him free of charge!

The Open House will continue on Saturday, November 16th, but individual store hours may vary.

So be sure to come out next weekend and join us for the Holiday Open House. If you have any questions or need more information, call (573) 642-8080. There is plenty of fun for everyone! We hope to see you there!

First Annual Harvest Festival This Weekend!

We are excited to join together with the Callaway Country Humane Society to bring the first annual Harvest Festival to the Brick District. We have a full lineup of activites for everyone, so be sure to get there early and stay late!

The schedule goes as follows:

9:00 -- Festival Opens

9:00 -- 50/50 Raffle Ticket Sales Begin

9:00-2:00 -- Varlet Hearts perform

10:00-10:30 -- Costume Parade and Contest

10:00 -- Dog Training Session

10:45 -- Cake Walk

10:45 -- Chili Cook-off Judging begins

11:30 -- Chili Cook-off Winner Announced

(All chili available by the bowl or on a hotdog for purchase after 11:30!)

12:00-12:30 -- Janet's Dance Studio Performance

12:00 -- Dog Training Session

1:00-3:00 -- Varlet Hearts at the Farmer's Market Area

1:00-1:30 -- Flat Footin' Follies Performance

1:00 -- Dog Training Session

1:45 -- Cake Walk

2:00 -- Fulton High School Pep Band Performance

2:30-3:00 -- Art Raffle Drawing, Pet Photo Contest Drawing, 50/50 Raffle Drawing

 

All other activities will go on all day. Most food will be available all day as well.

 

Just a reminder, this Saturday will be the final Farmer's Market of the year, so we will feature an expanded market this weekend only! So get out and make sure to stock up on Saturday morning. We look forward to seeing everyone!

 

Stay tuned as we will cover any additional details about the Harvest Festival in tomorrow's blog post.

 

Join Us At the Westminster Homecoming Parade!

This Wednesday, October 16th, we will be celebrating the Westminster Homecoming Parade! Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the festivities, which will begin with the float entries lining up at 4:30pm, followed by the parade at 5pm. The parade will go east down 7th Street, then down Court Street, and finish up in the City Hall parking lot. After that, there will be a pep rally on Court Street, so be sure to stick around, as some of festivities will include:

• Recognition of the Fall athletic teams
• Free giveaways!
• Recognition of the Homecoming Court
• Free food for anyone wearing Westminster apparel or presenting a Westminster student ID!

Westminster students chalk the sidewalks
each year in prep for Homecoming Week.

Also, if you have been to The Brick District recently, you will notice the chalk designs covering the sidewalks. The Westminster students did their annual chalking of the sidewalks in preparation of Homecoming Week, so feel free to stop by and enjoy some of the free art on display if you have the chance. It won't be around very long!

Be sure to stay tuned for our next post regarding the Harvest Festival!

Get To Know Brooklyn Pizza

Stop by and enjoy some NY Style Pizza.
Brooklyn Pizza is located at 501 Court St.

As we mentioned before, in honor of Brooklyn Pizza's one-year anniversary, they were selected as our inaugural Brick District Business of the Month. Hopefully you have had a chance to get out and catch some of their live music on Tuesday nights. If not, make sure to catch one of these upcoming acts:

Tuesday, Oct. 15
Planet Jazz, a Jazz Blues and R&B band

Tuesday, Oct. 22
Mere Mortals, a Bluegrass band

Tuesday, Oct. 29
Planet Jazz, a Jazz Blues and R&B band

For more information or reservations, call (573) 642-1122.

Earlier this month we were able to catch up with the owners of Brooklyn Pizza, Brian and Karen Atkins, and ask them a few questions about their business and themselves as well. Here is the interview.

1) So give our viewers a brief overview of Brooklyn Pizza.

"At Brooklyn Pizza we offer New York Style Pizza, Calzones, Subs, and Spaghetti. We try to give our customers a taste of what we grew up with. That means New York Style made with fresh ingredients, bought locally."

2) Do you have on specials going on right now?

"We currently have a special Tuesday through Friday from 11am-2pm in which you can get 2 cheese slices and a soda for $4.95. Also, on Fridays and Saturdays we offer a Shrimp & Garlic pizza, which has been quite a hit."

3) How do you get involved in the community?

"We try to give back to the community the best we can, whether it is getting involved with fundraisers or contributing to organizations such as the Kingdom Projects and Callaway Humane Society

4) What are your short-term/ long-term goals?


Owner Brian Atkins preparing ingredients
prior to the dinner rush.

"Well our short-term goals are similar to our long-term goals. We enjoy offering a unique experience to the city of Fulton, and our goal is to be here for the long-term. Simply put, we love it here."

5) What is your perfect day/customer scenario?

"This business is something that we have a passion for. The perfect day means us having a smile on our faces while we keep busy by serving pizza that our customers enjoy. That is the ultimate satisfaction for a business owner."

6) When you have time off, what do you like to do?

"Every once in a while we like to catch a movie, but for the most part we enjoy spending time with our grandkids."

7) Where do you see The Brick District in the future?

"The Brick District has taken some time to build, but all the signs are very encouraging. The DREAM Initiative has greatly helped this area get back on its feet, and we are very confident that The Brick District will be successful for years to come."

To find out more about Brooklyn Pizza, visit their website at brooklynpizzamo.com

Stay tuned next week to find out more about Tailgating With Winston and the Brick District Harvest Festival!

The October 2013 Business of the Month is: Brooklyn Pizza

The Fulton Brick District is happy to announce that our first Business of the Month is Brooklyn Pizza!

Brooklyn Pizza is located at 501 Court Street in Fulton, MO, and is owned by Brian and Karen Atkins. Their New York Pizza, Calzones, Strombolis, Subs and Pasta are prepared daily with fresh ingredients, grown locally. Be sure to stop by or give them a call at (573) 642-1122. They also deliver and cater!

In celebration of their one-year anniversary, Brooklyn Pizza will provide entertainment every Tuesday night from 6-8pm during the month of October. Here are just a few of the acts coming to Brooklyn Pizza:

Tuesday, October 1st
Val & Mal, a Contemporary Blues and Folk Rock band

Tuesday, October 8th
Mark Atkins Lieberman performs solo guitar, jazz and classical music

For reservations and more information, call (573) 642-1122. Or visit them on the web at brooklynpizzamo.com

Stay tuned as we will unveil the remaining entertainment for the month, as well as a short interview we had with the owners of Brooklyn Pizza, Brian and Karen Atkins.



Brick District Ribbon Cutting Tomorrow! Come Join Us!

The Brick District will be having a ribbon cutting tomorrow, September 5th, at 4:00 pm at the corner of 5th & Court Street. The event is a celebration of a revitalization effort that has been years in the making.

Several years ago, with poor economic conditions and downtown retail districts facing new competition, it became a need to protect one of Fulton's greatest assets. The historic downtown area, paved with brick streets and lined with commercial buildings, had survived for decades but business owners believed the town could do more. Fulton was soon chosen as a DREAM community, which got the wheels turning on this revitalization project. The Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) initiative provides select communities with the resources they need to help achieve their renovation plans. With the help of the DREAM initiative, new zoning policies have been introduced, new business recruited, and plans for future improvements have been made that will benefit the area for years to come.

"The ribbon cutting is a chance to re-introduce everyone to the growth and improvement in our downtown," says Brick District Association President Tom Riley. In the last year, eight new businesses have relocated or opened in the Brick District, which is helping to restore the economic health of the downtown area. What once seemed like a tall task has become a reality for the downtown area, and Riley gives credit to the people of Fulton for their generosity. "I think its a great testament to those who work in our downtown and value its unique character. The many volunteers and business people were so excited that many of the plans turned into reality years before they were projected to."

Everyone is encouraged to come out tomorrow and show your support for the Brick District and celebrate the growth that we have experienced in such a short period of time. After the ribbon cutting, stick around and browse the local shops as it is the First Thursday of the month, so all businesses will have extended hours from 5 to 7 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!



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The Blog of Historic Downtown Fulton, MO!

In the middle of the photo is the logo of the Fulton Brick District,
which is a part of historic downtown Fulton, Missouri.

Hello and welcome to the official blog of the The Fulton Brick District! The Brick District is home to the core shopping district of the Fulton, Missouri area. Whether its  doing laundry, having some pizza, getting your car fixed,  or grabbing a few drinks with friends and family, you can meet all of your needs here in this historic shopping district.

This blog will provide you with updates on current news and events happening in the area. Also, we will be having a "Business of the Month," where each month we will feature a different company in The Brick District. During the first week of each month, we will have a daily articles providing insight into a different part of that business. You might learn about your favorite place, or a business that you find interesting but have never visited! Either way, you will find out more about your local businesses in a week than you ever have!

Visit The Brick District Farmer's Market every
Saturday morning from  9am-Noon until October 26th!

Whether it is the weekly Fulton Farmer's Market, or a Brick District Board Meeting, we want to keep you informed and up-to-date with what's going on. If you would like to be more interactive with The Brick District, feel free to like us on FaceBook, follow us on Twitter @brick_district, or visit our Google+ business page @ The Brick District.

 

 

Don't forget to subscribe to our blog, as next we will soon reveal the first business in our inaugural "Business of the month" feature!