Bi-Monthly Newsletter Vo. 10. Iss. 4 July/August 2016

Upcoming Events

Historic Preservation Commission

July 7, August 4, 4:00 PM, City Hall

Downtown Development Authority

July 8, August 12, 8:00 AM, City Hall

Economic Restructuring Committee

July 7, August 11, 8:00 AM, City Hall

Promotions Committee

July 21, August 18. 8:00 AM, City Hall

Summer Movies

July 7, 14, 21, 28, 10:00 AM, and 7:00 PM

Schaefer Center

Ida Cox Music Series

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 7:00 PM Historic Downtown

Putting on the Ritz

Unveiling of Ritz Theatre Marquee, August 25

6 PM, Schaefer Center

Contact Us: Main Street Toccoa, 92 N. Alexander Street 706.282.3232

Online: www.mainstreettoccoa.com Facebook: Main Street Toccoa

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Putting on the Ritz!

Main Street Events Continue!

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood has made its way back around to Toccoa. Stayed tuned for

Putting on the Ritz, as we commemorate the installation and lighting of our historically-inspired

Ritz Theatre marquee on the Schaefer Center.

On August 25 at 6 P.M., come down to the newly rechristened Ritz Theatre/Schaefer Center for

a celebration of Toccoa’s vibrant history, live entertainment, food, and a whole lot of neon fun.

But wait, there’s more! Turn this newsletter over for more information.

Our Summer Movies are still playing. We will

see you every Thursday at 10 A.M. and 7

P.M. Admission is only $1. Our Summer

Movies at the Schaefer Center will include

the following films in July:

Avengers: Age of Ultron (July 7)

Alvin & the Chipmunks: Road Chip (July 14)

Jurassic World (July 21)

Minions (July 28)

Concept Design

Did You Know…?

Toccoa is one of only eight (8) Georgia Exceptional Main Street

programs (GEMS) in the entire state of Georgia?

This designation was awarded to Toccoa by the Georgia Depart-ment of Community Affairs Of-fice of Downtown Development

for its efforts regarding historic preservation and downtown

development.

Don’t forget about the 2016 Ida Cox Music

Series. Every Saturday in July, come down to

Doyle Street at 7 P.M. to hear some of your

favorite hits. Bring a lawn chair!

Clemson Jazz Band

(July 2)

Jazz

Delta Cane (July 16)

Rock & Blues

Seven Day

Weekend (July 9)

Blues, Funk, & Soul

Clay Leverett

(July 23)

Country DYN-O-MITE

(July 30)

Blues, Funk, & Soul

EXTRA! EXTRA!

READ ALL ABOUT

IT!

EXTRA! EXTRA!

READ ALL ABOUT

IT!

Check out our BLOG:

http://toccoanews.blogspot.com/

Main Street Toccoa Mission Statement The program’s mission is to improve Toccoa’s quality of life by strengthening the downtown district’s role as the community’s heart.

Main Street Toccoa Vision/Program Statement Toccoa Main Street is a nonprofit organization formed to make the downtown district the economic and cultural center of the community. The overall objective is to improve the viability and appearance of the downtown district and to stimulate the long-term reinvestment through business recruitment and retention, all within the context of historic preservation.

41 Doyle Street is now ready for a business to rent or buy. This

property is right in the heart of the

main downtown thoroughfare, nestled

near a hair salon, restaurants, and the

Department of Driver Services. For

more information, contact Whistle

Stop, Inc. at 706.282.1386. Let’s bring

your business to Downtown Toccoa!

Vacant Building Spotlight

A Celebration of the Ritz Theatre The Ritz Theatre opened in the late 1930s as a Hollywood-style moving

picture venue. Seating approximately 400 people downstairs and 100

upstairs, it was built in a classic Art Deco style, known for its recessed

lines, straight sides, and fluted elements.

Later, the Ritz Theatre was owned by Mrs. Orville Schaefer and, in 1982,

the Currahee Arts Council purchased it and turned it into a performing

arts venue.

The City of Toccoa began to

manage the former Ritz

Theatre in 2011 and started

extensive renovation on it,

noticeably removing the

brick veneer and restoring

the original Art Deco façade.

Now, the historic marquee is

being restored (with the addition

of an electronic message board). To celebrate this momentous

occasion, we will unveil the new marquee on August 25. Beginning at 6

PM, come down to the Ritz for live music, food, and a special

ceremony. Following this, we will be showing the 1958 feature film, Once

Upon a Horse, just as Toccoa patrons saw the film in the historic

photograph above. We hope to recreate the photo above at Putting on

the Ritz, so bring your kids for a fun night celebrating the Ritz Theatre.

For more information, contact Sharon Crosby at 706.282.3309.

Threads Boutique is a wonderful new addition to

downtown Toccoa. This women’s clothing and accessory

boutique serves only the finest in fashionable and trendy

Southern dress. Additionally, it serves as an authorized

dealer for Big Green Egg,

YETI, ENO Hammocks, and

Orca. Threads Boutique is

open Monday, Tuesday,

Thursday, and Friday from

10am to 5:30pm, and

Saturday from 10am to

2pm. It is closed

Wednesday and Sunday. For

more information, call their

helpful staff at

706.886.2814.

New Business Spotlight:

We Would Love Your Help!

The reverie of our historic Ritz Theatre means that many

citizens of Toccoa have fond memories of it as both the

Ritz and as the Schaefer Center.

This July and August, we would love for you to share your

stories and photographs of your time at the Ritz Theatre/

Schaefer Center: Movies, theatre productions, concert

series, award ceremonies, whatever you have!

If the Ritz Theatre/Schaefer Center has a special place in

your heart, or served as the venue for a special time in

your life, contact us on Facebook, through email, or call

us.

We want to share your memories with others.

Patrons lining up to see Once Upon a Horse.

“We all have our time machines. Some take us back,

they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're

called dreams.” - Jeremy Irons