Calera’s Main Street Revival
There’s something happening in Shelby County that
breathes new life into the historic downtown
BY JEANA DURST
Did you know that the city of Calera is named
after the Spanish word quarry because of the
numerous lime quarries in the area? This historic
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central location (it’s almost in the center of the
state) and railroad connections made it a natural
hub when shipping limestone to Birmingham for
steel production. This crossroads town is now at
a crossroads of change, and it’s exciting to see the
progress.
At a time when many small businesses are
closing because of the coronavirus quarantine,
Calera recently held a triple-ribbon cutting for
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Reopening Celebration. It’s all part of their main
street revitalization. We had the chance to speak
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Batson, to learn more about what’s happening in
this Shelby County community.
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a main street city in Alabama,” Batson explains.
The Main Street Alabama program, which builds
on the 1980s Alabama Historical Commission
efforts, began in 2009. They seek to “stress
public-private partnerships, broad community
engagement, and strategies that create jobs,
spark new investment, attract visitors, and spur
growth.” The goal is to build on the authentic
history and culture of towns and to bring
sustainable change. Batson works for Main Street
Calera, and the city of Calera is their number one
22 Bham Family July 2020
Families enjoy Calera’s walkable downtown businesses.
sponsor and supporter. “We want to make Calera
a destination,” Batson says.
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families gathered on Main Street for festivities,
including a progressive ribbon cutting, food
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maintaining a safe social distance, kids and adults
alike enjoyed kickboxing demos from the newly
reopened business The Garage Kickboxing
as well as others from R.O.E. Hobby and Sun
Esthetics & Spa. Samplings from Adventurer’s
Coffee Company (open and going strong
since October) and treats from the bakery