Living in Lamar, Colorado, at the heart of America, pedestrians expect a certain level of hometown comfort and nostalgia. Why wouldn’t they? The media purports gangly cowboys and rough shod horses still roam the dirt streets so, wouldn’t gallery style boardwalk shops be part of the picture? And yet, the metal façade structures resembling 1960’s heritage don’t quite measure up.

Living in a Star Trek world with Father knows best ideology brings greater problems to the forefront. How can hometown America, the heartland central of the United States, more closely resemble a space station at warp speed than a community along the Arkansas River with pedestrian traffic and kids begging for ice cream on Main Street? Isn’t there a balance in the design somewhere?

One of the most significant and long lasting stores along the main drag, offers pine log furniture in the window with a high-tech building exterior. Nice combination, the contrasts are remarkable. But people don’t want to see Star Trek technology in a town most often referred to as Cowtown. Getting back to the future, in these days of everlasting historical value, means moving back to the simpler times with classic storefronts, hometown atmosphere, and glory-days comfort.

The average American tourist wants the hometown advantage as they cross the country. Sarsaparilla in the coffee shop on Main Street works if the bartender has a feather in his well worn felt hat and a gun holster. If the gun will light a candle, so much the better.

So how can you dress the windows in an Urban Renewal event and bring Community Wide Progress to your own community?

1. Warm up the colors of your downtown shop fronts.

2. Update the windows frequently and dress them for the holidays.

3. Make sure your store front is inviting and lively.

4. Put up a sign above your doorway that can be read from the sidewalk.

5. Move a display out onto the sidewalk, include something from inside to make it more important that the sidewalk shopper enter your store.

Do you want to learn more about window dressing for your community?
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