LIVING ON MAIN STREET A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO MAIN STREET TOCCOA
NOVEMBER 2020
FEATURING: Downtown Walking Guide An Event for Every Season Night at the Ritz A History of Rail Travel Business Directory
WWW.MAINSTREETTOCCOA.COM • WWW.RITZTHEATRETOCCOA.COM • WWW.IDACOXMUSICSERIES.COM
Lake Toccoa Event Facilities CALL TODAY TO BOOK YOUR EVENT!
201 BLACK MOUNTAIN ROAD TOCCOA, GA 30577 P: 706-282-3232 W: HTTPS://WWW.CITYOFTOCCOA.COM/REFLECTIONS-ATLAKE-TOCCOA.CFM FIND US ON FACEBOOK @ LAKE TOCCOA EVENT FACILITIES
CONTENTs 04 06 08 12 13 14 16 18 20 21 22 24 26 28
WELCOME SIGHTS OF STEPHENS COUNTY LOCAL & REGIONAL FAVORITES STEPHENS COUNTY HISTORY PAGES VISITOR WALKING GUIDE TRAVEL BY RAIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS A FALL FULL OF FUN SLIDING INTO SPRING MOVIE SERIES YOUR DAY DOWNTOWN NIGHT AT THE RITZ RETURNS DID YOU KNOW? COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MAIN STREET TOCCOA 92 N. Alexander Street Toccoa, GA 30577 877.6.TOCCOA www.mainstreettoccoa.com www.ritztheatretoccoa.com facebook.com/mainstreettoccoa Subscribe to our weekly email for Historic Downtown Toccoa events, retail promotions, and more!
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY Photography: STEPH’S Photography
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WELCOME Welcome to the November 2020 edition of Living on Main Street, a visitor’s guide to Downtown Toccoa. To be quite honest, we weren’t entirely sure if we’d be publishing our annual magazine this year, what with the global pandemic we’re still dealing with, along with everything else that 2020 has decided to spring upon us. What we’ve found, however, is that 2020 has helped us to see what’s really important. Downtown Toccoa’s business and property owners struggled earlier this year, but the district has come back stronger than ever.
We’ve got more restaurants, storefronts, retail businesses, and services now than when this year began, and our streets are as busy as ever (with social distancing still in place, of course).
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We say all of this to emphasize that things haven’t changed too much downtown, and what has changed, we’d argue, has made us all stronger. That’s why you’re seeing this magazine this year. It may be in your hands a bit later than usual, but we like to think that it’s reflective of the stalwart spirit of Downtown. The heart and soul of our community has never been more focused and our family has never been closer. So come and visit us downtown. See what we have to offer.
Welcome from Clint & Staff WELCOME TO DOWNTOWN TOCCOA DDA Chairman, Mr. Clint Sanders We’re very pleased to be able to present our publication to you this year, and we’re excited that this year’s magazine features some really great stories and spotlights on the people, places, and events that make Downtown Toccoa a special place. I’m proud to lead the Toccoa Downtown Development Authority. Our board has the privilege to spearhead economic development efforts in the downtown district, as well as provide grant and loan opportunities to downtown business and property owners. Downtown Toccoa is a remarkable place, and we hope you’ll see the hard work we do daily to make it the capstone of our great community.
WELCOME TO MAIN STREET Main Street Manager, Mr. Christian Hamilton When we published our magazine last October, we had no idea that this year would see the cancellation of the 2020 Toast of Toccoa and the 2020 Harvest Festival. At the same time, we’ve adapted to facilitate the needs of our downtown business and property owners and community’s residents. Our Ida Cox Music Series, originally scheduled to run from June through August this year began a month later and ended in September. In place of the Harvest Festival, we held two very successful small events, our inaugural Downtown Toccoa Sip-nStroll and Pumpkin Daze, a family-oriented Fall event. We’ve also worked with the DDA to implement policies and complete goals to directly benefit our downtown. These include:
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Pivoting FY20 Façade Grant funding to provide 26 $250 “Bridge-the-Gap” micro-grants directly to our downtown business owners.
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Assisting at least 14 downtown business owners to receive Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), EIDL Advances, and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan funding.
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Expanding the capabilities of the Currahee Street Beautification Grant program to assist other properties off Currahee Street on a case-by-case basis that reflect the goals of downtown beautification efforts consistent with the Toccoa City Commission’s Comprehensive Plan goals.
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Designing Downtown Streetscape Improvements that we hope to implement in the near future.
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And more!
Main Street Toccoa isn’t just about events. We’re an economic support structure for our downtown community, and that especially means supporting our businesses in unprecedented times like during the COVID-19 Stay-at-Home mandate from the Governor. We are proud of our downtown community for weathering the storm, and we want you to know that Main Street Toccoa is in it for the long haul. Thanks for reading this year’s Living on Main Street publication.
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Local & Regional Favorites Located right at the base of Currahee Mountain, Camp Toccoa is the historic training facility for 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (among others), including the famous Easy Company, featured on HBO’s seminal hit, Band of Brothers. Camp Toccoa is in a state of revitalization and includes a new pavilion, barracks buildings, and a C-47, the very same style of plane that U.S. paratroopers jumped from in WWII. Currahee Mountain also serves as Toccoa’s most famous hiking and rock climbing site and rises to an elevation of 1,740 feet. Currahee, meaning “stands alone,” is located at the beginning of the Appalachian
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CAMP TOCCOA AT CURRAHEE
Mountains.
This world-class museum features a diverse collection of memorabilia from the more than 18,000 soldiers who trained as paratroopers at Camp Toccoa during WWII. Additionally, the museum features war history from the Revolutionary War up through modern times, as well as local and regional showcases. The Currahee Military Museum also features a revolving exhibit sponsored by various advocacy and social organizations that honors the dedication of the military throughout American history.
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HISTORIC STEPHENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Constructed in 1939 as a single-screen movie theater, the Ritz Theatre has been meticulously renovated and now offers affordable and quality entertainment on a regular basis. The Ritz Theatre installed a neon-lit marquee in 2016, a state-of-the-art sound system in 2017, and balcony renovations were completed in 2019. Visit www. ritztheatretoccoa.com for programming information.
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02.
CURRAHEE MILITARY MUSEUM
Constructed in 1907, the Stephens County Courthouse was built as the official seat of government for the relatively new Stephens County. The historic courthouse, faithfully renovated in 2009, is worth a visit. Particularly, the courtroom on the second floor is worth a visit and has been featured in several films due to its mid-1900s architectural style.
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HISTORIC RITZ THEATRE
The cultural heart of the City of Toccoa, the historic downtown district is located on both the Georgia and National Registers of Historic Places. Downtown Toccoa features vibrant storefronts and services and contains one of only three Southern Crescent Amtrak stations in the State of Georgia. It is anchored by the Historic Ritz Theatre on the west, the Doyle Street Pool on the east, and the new grant-funded Railway Viewing Platform on the south.
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HISTORIC DOWNTOWN TOCCOA
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LAKE TOCCOA RECREATIONAL PARK
Lake Toccoa is the City of Toccoa’s newest park. Featuring an affordable 9-hole golf course, Ping’s Grill, and event facilities, including Reflections Event Center, the Pavilion, and the Boat House, this park is open to the public for lakeside recreation. A handicapped accessible walking trail will soon be completed around the perimeter of the lake.
This beautiful waterfall rests on the scenic 1,100acre wooded campus of Toccoa Falls College. At 186 feet high, Toccoa Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. In fact, it is taller than Niagara Falls! The falls are available for public viewing for a nominal fee. Please visit https://tfc.edu/about/book-an-event/gatecottage/ for more information.
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TOCCOA FALLS
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PAUL ANDERSON PARK
This beautiful park celebrates the legacy of Paul Edward Anderson (1932-1994), an Olympic gold medalist, weightlifter, and philanthropist. Paul Anderson is known for back-lifting 6,270 pounds, the greatest weight ever lifted by a human being. As a devout Christian, Paul and his wife, Glenda, later founded the Paul Anderson Youth Home in Vidalia, Georgia.
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Local & Regional Favorites
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TUGALOO BEND HERITAGE SITE
An 87-acre site located on the Tugaloo River, the Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site was home to Estatoe, a Cherokee village, and subsequently, a 19th and 20th century operating farm. Today, the site is home to a pavilion, outdoor kitchen, public restrooms, a picnic area, and walking trails (including a handicapped-accessible trail). The Tugaloo Bend Heritage Site is open on the weekends for general admission, as well as during the week by appointment. There is no charge for admission.
This historic stagecoach inn is a perfectly preserved relic of the early 1800s. Located at the crossroads of King’s Highway and the end of the Unicoi Turnpike, Traveler’s Rest contains its original furnishings and artifacts. The grounds are open daily and the inn itself is open on Saturdays and Sundays.
TRAVELER’S REST HISTORIC SITE
CURRAHEE CLUB ON LAKE HARTWELL
TOCCOA RACEWAY
Currahee Club is an award-winning 1,200-acre private community located in the North Georgia foothills of the Appalachian Mountains along the shores of Lake Hartwell. Amenities and activities are abundant with a Lake Park and Pavilion, Fazio Championship golf course, 48,000 square foot mountain chic Clubhouse, 5-acre Sports Campus, hiking trails, and more. Homesites from $70,000 and homes from $300,000. Learn more about the Currahee Club by visiting www.curraheeclub.com or calling 706.827.1000.
The fastest 1,650 feet of dirt in Georgia and a staple of the Appalachian foothills, the Toccoa Raceway is a highbanked oval dirt track that also has the honor of being the oldest operating track in Georgia. The Toccoa Raceway hosts races every Saturday night from March through September. It is family fun for all ages. Find out more at www.toccoaraceway.com.
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HISTORIC HOMES OF MARTIN
Ten miles south of Toccoa, off the new Currahee Parkway, historic Martin features many beautiful and quaint homes like the Yow-Dean House, the old Martin Institute, the Walters-Alexander House, and the Stovall House. Martin’s homes were most recently featured in the coveted 2017 Spring Ramble, hosted by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Martin is a National Register Historic District.
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ROSE LANE SPORTS COMPLEX
The Rose Lane Sports Complex rests of 88 acres and serves as the home for the Stephens County Recreation Department. The complex boasts soccer, softball, football, and other athletic fields, concession stands and public restrooms, tennis and basketball courts, gymnasiums, walking trails, a disc golf course, a children’s playground, an indoor heated therapeutic swimming pool, extensive facilities for seniors, the SCentral Bark Dog Park, and more.
Currahee Vineyard is locally owned and operated and rests within a jaw-dropping view of Currahee Mountain. Come out for the award-winning Ole Blue, 3 Mile White, Apple, and more, or a world-famous wine slushy. The tasting room is open from Thursday to Sunday, and live music is offered every Sunday.
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CURRAHEE VINEYARD
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Stephens County History FB Pages Downtown Toccoa is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Georgia Register of Historic Places. It’s also been designated as a Local Historic District, and the buildings you see downtown today look predominantly the same way the used to one hundred years ago – some even longer! Main Street is all about historic preservation and its benefit as an economic development tool. Hundreds of thousands of individuals step foot into our downtown on an annual basis, many of them to explore the rich history that our downtown commercial district has to offer. Putting together this history into a readable, usable, and storable archive is a gargantuan task. We’re proud to say that we have several great groups of local folks that have come together to document this history, and we wanted to tell you a bit more about each group.
1. Stephens County Georgia History Club:
This Facebook group now has over 5,000 members, all of whom have come together to share photographs, newspaper articles, and more from Toccoa’s founding to the present. If you have a question you need answered, or need some more information on something from Toccoa’s past, this is a great place to begin.
2. Currahee Memories:
This Facebook group has over 3,000 members and is focused on sharing specific memories, events, people, and places from here in Toccoa, Georgia. Stories can be good or bad, happy or sad, fondly remembered or heartbreaking. In any case, Currahee Memories serves as an online repository to truly witness all that Toccoa has, and has had, to offer.
3. Toccoa City Adventures:
This Facebook group has over 1,000 members who share stories, photos, and more about life in the city limits of Toccoa. These stories are often unique and interesting anecdotes into the history of Toccoa.
In addition to the information you find here, we have over 50 historic plaques located on our buildings downtown. Follow along with one of our free full-color Historic Plaque Walking Guides and learn unique and interesting facts about our downtown district. We hope your visit downtown will encourage you to explore the vast history that Downtown Toccoa has to offer!
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Visitor Walking Guide
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Travel by Rail This past year, Amtrak made a significant investment in Historic Downtown Toccoa. You may not know that Toccoa’s Amtrak station is one of only three stops in the State of Georgia. The Crescent runs from Penn Station in New York City all the way down to New Orleans, Louisiana. And we’re pleased to say that you can stop right here on the way (though we’d like to consider ourselves a destination location)! Well, Amtrak has invested over a million dollars (that’s six zeroes) into revitalizing their platform, which now includes a raised concrete platform all the way to Sage Street, historic lighting the length of the platform, and even a handicapped chair lift for boarding the train. The platform is state-of-the-art and is now one of the newest Amtrak platform in the United States! A welcoming first impression to the downtown historic district, we’d like to encourage you to come out and visit our Railway Viewing Platform and watch the trains. Even better, visit Ionosphere Travel in Downtown Toccoa and book your next trip on the Crescent and experience something new somewhere else.
It’s comforting to know that you’ll arrive right back in Downtown Toccoa, and we can promise that the view will be spectacular.
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Ritz Theatre Events Calendar 2020
2020
2021
October 9 / 7pm Edgar Loudermilk Band Night at the Ritz
November 20 / 7pm John Conlee Special Event
January 14 / 7pm The Malpass Brothers Special Event
October 10 / 7pm The Bledsols Southern Gospel Music
November 21 / 7pm Dad’s Garage Friends of the Ritz Event
January 16 / 7pm Winner’s Showcase Open Mic Monday
October 18 / 2pm & 7pm Johnny Peers & the Muttville Comix Night at the Ritz
December 3 / 10am & 7pm A Christmas Story Christmas Movies at the Ritz
January 23 / 7pm Chi-Town Transit Authority Night at the Ritz
October 19 / 7pm Singer/Songwriter Night Open Mic Monday
December 10 / 10am & 7pm The Man Who Invented Christmas Christmas Movies at the Ritz
February 5 / 3pm & 7pm Movie TBD by Popular Vote Sliding Into Spring Movie Series
October 30 / 7pm The Vintage Vixens Night at the Ritz
December 12 / 7pm Christmas Special Southern Gospel Music
February 12 / 3pm & 7pm Movie TBD by Popular Vote Sliding Into Spring Movie Series
November 7 / 7pm Joe Hott Night at the Ritz
December 13 / 7pm Benjamin Kronk Night at the Ritz
February 18 / 7pm Milkshake Mayfield Night at the Ritz
November 14 / 7pm Children of the Promise Southern Gospel Music
December 17 / 10am & 7pm The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Christmas Movies at the Ritz
February 19 / 3pm & 7pm Movie TBD by Popular Vote Sliding Into Spring Movie Series
November 16 / 7pm Country Night Open Mic Monday
FOR RITZ & MAIN STREET EVENT DETAILS: RITZTHEATRETOCCOA.COM MAINSTREETTOCCOA.COM
December 21 / 7pm Wildcard Night Open Mic Monday
February 26 / 3pm & 7pm Movie TBD by Popular Vote Sliding Into Spring Movie Series March 27 / 7pm Still Standing: A Tribute to Elton John Special Event May 15 / 7pm Fleetwood Max Night at the Ritz Date TBA / 7pm Jim Curry presents: “The Music of John Denver” Night at the Ritz
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Main Street Toccoa Events Calendar 2020
2021
October 9 / 4pm Inaugural Downtown Sip-n-Stroll Downtown Toccoa
January 28 / 5pm Annual Main Street Awards Historic Ritz Theatre
November 7 / Events All Day Pumpkin Daze Downtown Toccoa
February 20 / 10am Toccoa Arbor Day Historic Ritz Theatre
November 28 / Events All Day Small Business Saturday Downtown Toccoa
May 8 / 12pm Toast of Toccoa Downtown Toccoa
December 4 / 6pm ChristmasFest Downtown Toccoa
June – August / 7pm Every Saturday Ida Cox Music Series Downtown Toccoa
December / Skating Every Weekend Toccoa on Ice Downtown Toccoa
October 1 – 3 / Events All Weekend Currahee Military Weekend Downtown Toccoa
Due to COVID-19, all Ritz and Main Street event dates are subject to change. Please contact the Main Street Office for up-to-date information.
October 29 / 10am Downtown Costume Parade Downtown Toccoa October 30 – 31 / Events Both Days Toccoa Harvest Festival Downtown Toccoa November 27 / Events All Day Small Business Saturday Downtown Toccoa December 3 / 6pm ChristmasFest Downtown Toccoa December / Skating Every Weekend Toccoa on Ice Downtown Toccoa
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A Fall Full of Fun Every year, as the leaves change color and begin to fall, Main Street Toccoa welcomes in the season with the annual Harvest Festival, a 14,000-person event that brings hundreds of food and craft vendors, children’s activities, an arts show, and more to Historic Downtown Toccoa.
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Well, things didn’t go quite according to plan this season, and due to the governor’s guidelines, as well as recommendations from the CDC, the Downtown Development Authority made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Harvest Festival.
So, we couldn’t hold an event with 14,000 people confined to several blocks? That’s okay. We decided to do two things in its place. The first was to have an adult-oriented event to make up for the cancellation of the 2020 Toast of Toccoa. The second was to have a family-oriented event to make up for the cancellation of the 2020 Harvest Festival.
But Main Street Toccoa is all about economic development. And part of the Main Street Approach is Promotions; along with Promotions, staff must have the ability to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances.
And with that, we killed two birds with one stone, as the saying goes.
The Inaugural Downtown Toccoa Sip-n-Stroll, which took place in early October, was a huge success. Several hundred people walked downtown, enjoyed samples of specialty cocktails, listened to live music, and most importantly, shopped local in Downtown Toccoa. The Sip-n-Stroll provided an opportunity for strollers to walk directly into and interact with our great downtown businesses. The night ended with a great concert by nationally-renowned Bluegrass singer Edgar Loudermilk as part of the 2020 – 2021 season of Night at the Ritz. Our second event, Pumpkin Daze, was also successful. Almost like a mini Harvest Festival, the event featured a select number of food and craft vendors, live entertainment, children’s activities, and more. But unlike the Harvest Festival, this event was not only familyfriendly, but family-oriented. Visitors got to participate in a pumpkin derby, decorate pumpkins, and spend time with family members. Who knows if Pumpkin Daze will return for 2021, but if it doesn’t, we really enjoyed the opportunity to promote our downtown as fun and familyfriendly, albeit in a smaller manner than the Harvest Festival.
By the time this magazine comes out, it will be a little colder. We may see some Christmas lights and hear Christmas music playing on the radio. December 4th is our annual ChristmasFest. It may look a little different, too, this year, but like our Fall events, it’s not something you’re going to want to miss!
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Sliding Into Spring Movie Series Batter up! We’re proud to roll out the red carpet (or maybe it’s baseball diamond?) as we announce our annual special movie series at the Historic Ritz Theatre. While we always do Summer and Christmas movies, for the last three years, we have also done a special movie series sometime during the year.
Our theme this year is “Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Sliding into Spring” and it features, of course, BASEBALL! Every Friday in February (as we slide into Spring... get it?), we will show a fun baseball-themed movie at the Historic Ritz Theatre. As with all of our movies, tickets and concessions are only $1 each. And here’s the fun part:
You get to pick which movies we show!
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All January long, we will have an online poll available where you can vote on your favorite movies for the series. The top four winners will be shown at the Ritz every Friday in February. We look forward to announcing our movies list in the near future! We even promise we’ll have crackerjacks and peanuts at the Ritz for this special series, too! Come out and enjoy the show – all nine innings of it!
Your Day Downtown So you’ve taken your first step off the Crescent. It was a long train ride from New York, but now you’ve made it to one of only three Amtrak stops in the State of Georgia. Take a walk down our beautifully and newly renovated platform and stop off at the Railway Viewing Platform for a picture before the train leaves. It’s breakfast time, so grab a hot plate piled high with bacon and eggs from Linda’s Place at the Rebel, or for some lighter fare, a coffee or shake and a crepe from Toccoa Nutrition. Take a walk down along the historic Courthouse square before checking into the SimmonsBond Inn, a beautiful bed-and-breakfast for your night’s stay.
After lunch, enjoy a spa treatment at Spa & Salon Anastasia or Details Salon 73 & Spa before antiquing at Coins, Currency, & Collectibles or the Cornerstone Antique and Craft Market. Find your next treasured read or spend an hour diving through comic book back bins at [Ash-Ling] Booskellers and OCM Comics. Make time during your afternoon to visit our world renowned Currahee Military Museum or perhaps enjoying a painting class at Tugalo Station.
Before heading back to your hotel room for the night, stop off at the Historic Ritz Theatre for a show, or if it’s summertime, free live music and drinks under the stars on Doyle Street. And end your evening with some of the best Mexican food in Georgia at Puerto Nuevo Mexican & Seafood. There’s something for everyone in Historic Downtown Toccoa. And once you get here, you’ll find it hard to go home.
Our retail businesses and storefronts open soon, so don’t forget to visit our unique specialty shops like CK Morgan & Company, The Chattel Shop, or Angel Oak Home for beautiful handcrafted, homemade, or Southern-themed gifts. And make sure to stop off at Troup’s Studio & Hallmark Gold Crown Store, where you’re sure to find everything you could want or need. At lunchtime, we encourage you to visit the X-Factor Grill for regional favorites, or Shirley’s Sole Food for the best Southern cooking this side of Atlanta. Shirley’s was featured on Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt for good reason.
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Night at the Ritz Returns Thanks to generous funding received from the Georgia Council for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, Main Street Toccoa is pleased to be able to present Night of the Ritz: Season Four, returning for the 2020 – 2021 season at the Historic Ritz Theatre. For the past four years, we’ve been able to present a regular schedule of entertainment at the Historic Ritz Theatre, all for a reasonable cost due to grant funds. Though our season this year has seen some rescheduling, we are proud to say that Night of the Ritz is ongoing, and is still your best opportunity to see high-quality performances right here in Northeast Georgia. Night at the Ritz kicked off in October with Edgar Loudermilk, held in conjunction with the 2020 Sip-nStroll. October also brought us two other great acts: Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix, which featured Johnny as he led over a dozen dogs through challenging and hilarious tricks, and the Vintage Vixens, an all-female group of entertainers that led us through the fabulous hits of the 1960s and 1970s.
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Night at the Ritz continues into November with Nashvillebased Bluegrass artist Joe Hott, and December will bring us Benjamin Kronk. When 2021 rolls around, Chicago tribute act, Chi-Town Transit Authority will take the stage in January. February sees the return of Jazz extraordinaire, Milkshake Mayfield, to the Historic Ritz Theatre. March brings Still Standing: A Tribute to Elton John, and May features the definitive Fleetwood Mac tribute act – Fleetwood Max. We’ve also signed a contract with Jim Curry as he presents “The Music of John Denver,” but we are still working on a date for this show.
There may be a couple of surprises on our schedule, too, so take a look at the dates here on this page. And for all things Ritz Theatre, visit our website at www.ritztheatretoccoa.com. Tickets can be purchased online. For the foreseeable future, a select number of tickets will be sold for each show and every other row will be blocked off. We are asking folks to sit according to their family or friend group and space out from others. We are also asking folks to wear their masks when they enter or exit the theatre. Thank you for helping us to secure the safety of our patrons.
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Did You Know? Downtown Toccoa is rich in history and culture. As a nationally accredited member of Main Street America, we follow a Four-Point Approach to downtown development. This approach focuses on Design, Organization, Promotions, and Economic Restructuring, a tiered strategy meant to promote business recruitment and retention, all within the context of historic preservation. A few things that you may not realize as you make your way into our downtown district: • Main
Street Toccoa is a Georgia Exceptional Main Street (GEMS) Community, the highest designation awarded in the state and one of only 17 throughout Georgia.
• Main
Street Toccoa consists of over 160 small businesses and 1,326 employees.
• Over 860,000 visitors flock to Downtown Toccoa on an annual basis.
• Your Main Street staff operates over 50 annual events
downtown, as well as a regular schedule of events at the Historic Ritz Theatre, which sees on average an additional 100 shows every year.
• Main Street Toccoa is also a Rural Zone Tax Credit District, a Live, Work, Play Community, and part of the City of Toccoa’s PlanFirst status.
• In the past several years alone, we’ve completed two
phases of downtown wayfinding signage, updated streetscape, built a railway viewing platform, and saw interior and exterior improvements to the Historic Ritz Theatre.
You may be one of 860,000 people to visit us this year, but you’re far more than a number. When you walk into our shops, expect a smile and open arms. Some of our businesses offer curbside pickup, and we even have businesses who will shop over the phone with you. In these current times, our downtown business and property owners are making sure that your safety is paramount, and we are actively encouraging social distancing, enhanced cleanliness procedures, and more. Our business owners can’t wait to meet your needs, and we promise that you’ll leave with what you’ve seen having made an impact on you.
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Toast of Toccoa Coming May
2021
ART - WINE - CRAFT BEER
Community Engagement Toccoa City Commission The Toccoa City Commission was created and established in 1931 to govern the City of Toccoa. The following duly-elected representatives currently serve on the Commission.
Left to Right: • Commissioner Gail Fry • Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson • Vice-Mayor Evan Hellenga • Mayor Terry Carter • Commissioner David Austin
Downtown Development Authority The Downtown Development Authority, responsible for the Main Street program, focuses on downtown organization, economic development, design, promotions, and recruitment.
Left to Right: • Chairman Clint Sanders • City Commission Liaison Terry Carter • Letha Phillips • Bryan Westmoreland • Joe Sewell Not Pictured: • Vice-Chairman Marilyn Hall • Terri Goethe • Clay Fisher
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Toccoa Planning Commission The Toccoa Planning Commission proactively evaluates and recommends changes to zoning ordinances and zoning maps as appropriate, as well as the overall planning processes utilized by the City of Toccoa.
Left to Right: • Vice-Chairman Billie Thompson • Commissioner Angie Garland • Chairman Suzy Bellamy • Commissioner Tara Simmons Not Pictured: • Commissioner Walker Whitworth
Historic Preservation Commission The Historic Preservation Commission reviews certificates of appropriateness applications for renovations to the exterior of buildings in the historic district.
Left to Right: • Chairman Thurston Estes • Commissioner Victor Cuvo • Vice-Chairman Patti Chism • Historic Preservation Consultant Joe Rothwell • Commissioner Susan Turner • City Commission Liaison Terry Carter • Former Commissioner Bill DeFoor Not Pictured: • Commissioner Gary Cortellino • Commissioner Debbie Allen
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Business Directory Art, Antiques & Cultural Entertainment Cornerstone Antique Market Currahee Military Museum Gallery on Sage Mountain Cove Pottery Historic Ritz Theatre at the Schaefer Center Stephen County Historical Society The Chattel Shop The Star Theater The Studio Troup’s Studio & Gifts Tugalo Station
142 N. Sage Street 160 N. Alexander Street 11 N. Sage Street 23 Doyle Street 139 Doyle Street 160 N. Alexander Street 56 Doyle Street 55 W. Doyle Street 61 E. Doyle Street 26 E. Doyle Street 67 E Tugalo Street
706-282-1386 706-282-5055 706-282-5055 706-282-1386 706-282-3232 706-282-5055 706-391-0890 706-491-6223 706-886-6138 706-886-2369 706-491-6440
Automotive Sales, Service & Supplies Browning’s Driver Imprvement School NAPA Auto Parts - RNT Parts Inc. Currahee Overland, LLC Powell Brothers Stan’s Service Center The Collision Doctor Toccoa Tire & Recapping
148 E. Currahee Street 120 E. Currahee Street 34 N. Pond Street 145 E. Currahee Street 74 W. Currahee Street 130 Railroad Steet 229 W. Currahee Street
706-865-7128 706-886-6848 706-431-5945 706-886-4331 706-886-4227 706-886-5545 706-886-3111
Cards, Gifts, Books, Film, Electronics & Flowers Angel Oak Home [ash-ling] Bookseleers Cami Originals CK Morgan & Co. Downtown Flowers
46 Doyle Street 47 Doyle Street 53 Foreacre Street 102 E. Tugalo Street 52 Doyle Street
706-898-5427 706-886-2665 706-491-5549 706-292-7310 706-491-7200
475 E. Tugalo Street 105 E. Tugalo Street 333 East Tugalo Street 315 N. Broad Street 995 E Tugalo Street
706-886-6822 706-886-3680 706-886-9446
Churches & Organziations First Baptist Church* Toccoa Presbyterian Church First United Methodist Church Masonic Hall, Lodge No. 309 St. Matthias Episcoal Church
706-886-4413
Clothing, Cleaning & Shoe Services Dollar General Threads Boutique Threads Sports Royal Dry Cleaners
301 W Currahee Street 96 N. Sage Street 96 N. Sage Street 22 N. Sage Street
470-354-3330 706-886-2814 706-886-2814 706-886-3866
30 S. Broad Street 325 N. Broad Street
706-886-0170 706-886-9491
Convenience & Food Stores American Eagle Food Mart Stephens County Farmers Market Building
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Doctors, Medical & Associated Services Addington Enterprises, Inc. Family Eye Care of Toccoa Flexx Sports & Rehab PT, Inc. Hermann, D. F. MD Lawrence Health & Wellness McDonald, Harry, MD Our Kids Pediatrics/Reese, Angela, MD PruittHealth Toccoa PruittHealth Pharmacy Sander’s Drugs Toccoa Eye Care, Kenneth Schneider, OD Jim Wade, MD Promethean Clinic,LLC
352 N. Broad Street 58 E. Doyle Steet 69 Doyle Street, Ste. 102 109 W. Savannah Street 334 N. Broad Street 201 Falls Road 154 W. Tugalo Street 633 Falls Road 377 N. Pond Street 61 Falls Road 72 Falls Road 218 Falls Road 46 Rice-Lewis Gillard Way
706-886-8403 706-886-5214 706-886-3486 706-282-0779 706-886-8800 706-886-8476 706-886-1309 706-886-8491 706-886-7787 706-297-0111 706-886-2120 706-391-5000
Financial, Accounting & Business Services 1st Franklin Financial (Loan Office) 1st Franklin Financial (Exec. /Investment) Beavers & Company, LLC Dennis F. Bellamy, CPA Chamber of Commerce First Citizens Bank Harris Communications Jack Green, CPA Jamieson Income Tax Service J. Sam Johnson CPA, LLC Lee Ellen Fields, CPA Max T. Brock, CPA, PC Oconee Federal Phillips Group Regions Bank Stephens County Development Authority Talent Force The Wright Credit Union Woodmen Life Country Financial
25 Stephens Circle 135 E. Tugalo Street 252 W. Savannah Street 322 N. Broad Street 160 N. Alexander Street 122 N. Alexander Street 119 N. Sage Street 37 W. Doyle Street 238 W. Savannah Street 161 E. Doyle Street 231 Falls Road 43 W. Doyle Street, #101 12 E. Doyle Street 125 E. Doyle Street 168 E. Doyle Street 31 W. Doyle Street 221 N. Broad Street 286 N. Broad Street 80 Doyle Street 248 E. Tugalo Street
706-886-2153 706-886-7571 706-886-8299 706-886-7522 706-886-2132 706-886-9421 706-886-4321 706-886-7143 706-886-6889 706-886-3173 706-898-5020 706-297-7997 706-886-2112 706-886-9922 706-886-8481 706-886-4242 706-282-0978 706-886-2908 706-898-6226 706-886-1199
Fitness, Health & Beauty Shops Details Salon 73 Diamond Skills Training Academy Gail’s Infinity Hair Salon Phyllis’ Hairworks Rhythm Academy Shear Designs Southern Roots Salon Spa & Salon Anastasia Star Styles by Keka The Clipper Barber Shop Aubry Beauty Supply
73 W. Doyle Street 65 E. Tugalo Street, Ste. 103 56 Doyle Street 140 E. Doyle Street 147 N. Alexander Street 40 Rice-Lewis-Gillard Way 36 Doyle Street 42 Doyle Street 41 Doyle Street 170 N. Pond Street 13 W Currahee Street
706-886-9437 706-297-8939 706-886-4373 706-886-7496 706-282-1931 706-282-6626 706-898-5660 706-827-0047 706-391-1839 706-201-1194
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Business Directory Food & Beverage [ash-ling] Booksellers China Lin Chinese Restaurant Dollar General Domino’s Pizza Just Right Catering Puerto Nuevo Mexican & Seafood Restaurant Shirley’s Sole Food Southside Package Store X-Factor Grill & Cornerstone Restaurant Linda’s Place Toccoa Nutrition Tasty Temptations by Amber
47 Doyle Street 35 W. Currahee Street 301 W Currahee Street 19 W. Currahee Street 55 Doyle Street 353 N. Broad Street 124 W. Currahee Street 194 E. Currahee Street 27 Doyle Street 66 Doyle Street 25 Doyle Street 47 Doyle Street
706-886-2665 706-599-9908 470-354-3330 706-886-0481 706-886-8204 706-886-7276 706-297-7739 706-886-4904 706-282-7771 706-491-7533 470-577-1013 706-886-2665
Government Offices & Public Services Chamber of Commerce Department of Community Supervision GA Department of Driver Services GA State Department of Labor Juvenile Probation Office Main Street Toccoa Public Restrooms Stephens County Development Authority Stephens County Government Building Stephens County Historic Courthouse Toccoa City Hall Toccoa Fire Department Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library US Post Office Welcome Center
160 N. Alexander Street 27 W. Doyle Street 62 Doyle Street 37 Foreacre Street 148 W. Tugalo Street 92 N. Alexander Street Doyle Street 31 W. Doyle Street 70 N. Alexander Street 37 W. Tugalo Street 92 N. Alexander Street 92 N. Alexander Street 53 W. Savannah Street 41 Falls Road, Ste. 101 160 N. Alexander Street
706-886-2132 706-282-4570 678-413-8400 706-282-4514 706-282-4520 706-282-3232 706-886-4242 706-886-9491 706-886-9491 706-886-8451 706-886-9491 706-886-6082 706-886-4058 706-886-2132
Insurance, Real Estate & Building Services Blasingame & Associates Franklin Insurance Co. John’s Roofing & Sheet Metal Co., Inc. Metro Insurance Services, Inc. Louise T. Morris Northview Properties Piedmont Insurance Sherwin-Williams Paints Talan Properties, LLC Van Minos Insurance Agency Jon C. West & Assoc. Foothills Contracting
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237 S. Alexander Street 219 N. Broad Street 100 N. Pond Street 92 N. Sage Street 141 W. Savannah Street, #103 138 Pond Street 256 N. Broad Street 33 N. Sage Street 150 W. Tugalo Street 92 N. Sage Street 43 W. Doyle Street, #201 52 Doyle Street
706-886-9905 706-886-3101 706-886-3584 706-886-1749 706-886-9613 706-282-0303 706-779-5038 706-886-4632 706-297-7480 706-886-7517 706-886-7016
Legal Services Black Law Offices Crumpton Law Firm, LLC Bruce Harkness, Atty. The Hicks Law Firm, LLC James T. Irvin, Atty. At Law McClure, Ramsey, Dickerson & Escoe N.M.S. Law Firm, LLC Nina Svoren Northeast Georgia CASA Smith & Tabor, Atty. At Law Deborah R. Whitlock, Att. At Law Willie Woodruff, Atty. At Law
141 W. Savannah Street, Ste B 17 Wall Street Way 12 W. Currahee Street 20 Doyle Street 27 E. Tugalo Street, #101 38 Falls Road 141 W. Savannah Street 11 N. Sage Street 131 W. Savannah Street 49 Wall Street Way 47 W. Doyle Street
706-282-4696 706-391-6760 706-886-9000 706-886-0005 706-886-6541 706-886-3178 706-282-4696 706-886-1098 706-886-5141 706-886-0518 706-886-7553
160 N. Alexander Street 92 Camp Toccoa Drive 273 N. Broad Street 12 Doyle Street 237 Camp Mikell Road 106 Stephens Circle 74 W. Tugalo Street
800-872-2777 706-886-5123 706-297-7799 706-886-9471 706-886-7515 706-886-1048 706-282-5183
119 N. Sage Street, Suite 2201 67 W. Doyle Street 119 Falls Road 145 N. Alexander Street 166 E. Tugalo Street 217 W Savannah Street
706-886-4321 706-886-9476 706-886-2727 706-886-2191 800-347-1991 762-217-0647
Lodging & Travel Amtrak/Welcome Center Camp Toccoa* Country Hearth inn Ionosphere Travel Agency Mikell Camp & Conference Center Quality Inn* Simmons Bond Inn
Media Services Harris Communications The Toccoa Record TruVista WNEG Radio (AM 630) (FM 93.1) Windstream Diamond Studios
Wholesale Distributors, Manufacturers & Misc. Acree Oil Company Caples Industrial Supply Toccoa Natural Gas/Water Department Tugalo Gas Company
272 W. Currahee Street 446 W. Currahee Street 92 N. Alexander Street 224 W. Currahee Street
706-886-2838 706-886-1437 706-886-8451 706-886-8447
Thank you to Toccoa’s public safety personnel for your hard work in serving our citizens.
TOCCOA POLICE DEPARTMENT
TOCCOA FIRE DEPARTMENT
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