Downtown Hillsboro Gets New Look & New Players

It took me just 10 seconds as I parked between 2nd and 3rd on East Main in downtown Hillsboro this AM to realize something was up. On Friday the 1890s building that anchors 2nd and Main was tan; a sort of muted neutral tone that it has been for years.  My eyes immediately picked up on the rich 2 tone green paint job that owner Eugene Zurbrugg and his team completed over the weekend.  It took me a few minutes to appreciate it but in this reporter’s eyes, it adds richness and class to the corner.  This is a color scheme I have seen successfully used in the past in locations in major metropolitan areas.  The corner of 2nd and Main was due for a bit of an update and this was just what the doctor ordered.

The colors were selected by Darcy DeBord of White Birch design who recently moved into the adjacent building where her newest store is located.

“There was a lot of ideas and tests before we landed on these two distinctive colors,” said DeBord.  With a little more trim work on the upper course of old brick, she thinks the looks will be perfect.  Adding some brass lettering for the new businesses is a potential idea as well.  While there may be detractors we are very supportive of this change.

  The 1890s building has space for new businesses and a new look to offer tenants and customers.

A little further East of this recent development, Roll Tide Properties, LLC (6 local boys from Glencoe High- more to follow) is demolishing the old Copper Stone aka Clark’s.  The inside is completely gutted and being changed out and it appears the space is going through some much-needed updates!    The long narrow building has been a successful eatery and bar in years past, and as the Cooperstone in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, it was Hillsboro’s favorite watering hole.  We reached one of the owners who confirmed that the group is doing a top to bottom rehab and considering all of their options for the building!  Time will tell who will open up in this central Main Street storefront but we are excited to see it all happening and to know it is in the hands of local ownership!  We say good luck and #RollTide.

Opening next week in the old Diversity Cafe space will be La Mixteca Oaxaca.  A local couple who could not be more dynamic and excited is going to be having a grand opening next week.  They proudly shared plans for super fresh shrimp, chicken, beef, and pork dishes.  Margaritas and cold drinks will be in the mix too and food should be available quickly.  This is going to be a much-needed addition to this end of Main Street.  We can not wait and wish them all the best in the world.

Just East of that new business is another.  A massive Yoga studio will be opening in the West half of the Primrose and Tumbleweed building is Kove Yoga studio.  The work going on in there is exciting and Main Street is ready for a little Zen-Boost!  We do not know much more, yet, but you can find out more at KoveYoga.com.  We will be watching for more info and all they have to offer.

Across the street, a 3rd new business is ramping up and dressing out (literally) for a grand opening on August 14th, 2021.   Lucia Isabel / Lieta’s dress shop is opening with an emphasis on gowns and party dresses.  This is another local family, brother and sister duo, who will be bringing their eye for fashion and their swag to downtown.  We have met them both and watched them work well into the evenings to get the space in the Weils building ready.  We think they will be a real hit as well.

Last but not least is the continuing work to find a new buyer and set of users for the US Bank space at 2nd and Main.  The developer, Travis Henry, recently told us he was fully leased up with a major brewpub and 3 eateries lined up for the 16,000 SF building.  When done it will sport larger windows and a rooftop deck which should delight patrons.  Before that happens he and the bank must work out some environmental issues that are probably from businesses that existed in the historical past.  Drilling was ongoing today near the old US Bank drive-through space where core samples from as far as 15 feet down were being pulled from the ground.  It appears 15 plus locations are being sampled and sent to the lab.

Drilling rigs pull core samples from the US Bank property, looking for environmental issues from the past.

The 1924 Sanborn Insurance map (shown above) indicates there was a bakery, cream testing lab, hardware and paint shop, and an auto sales lot, tire shed, and Vulcanizing business, among other things.  Any of those sorts of users could have contributed to pollution.  As it is the US Bank sale seems to be moving on and we wish the developers God Speed in getting their goals achieved.

Busy times in downtown Hillsboro, busy enough that it seemed like time for a Hillsboro Herald update!