PONTOTOC, Miss. (WTVA) — Businesses located on Lafayette and Jefferson streets in Pontotoc are anxiously awaiting the opening of what is called Off the Square Market, which currently is a vacant lot.
It will soon be the site of something designed to serve as an attraction for the city.
"This has just been an empty parking lot for a long time, and now we're going to have something that draws people into Pontotoc to downtown Pontotoc specifically," adds Josh Bramlett, business owner. "[You] just can't ask for anything better than that really."
With the projected opening for Off the Square Market scheduled to be sometime in the spring of 2013, organizers would like to host a number of events twelve months out of the year in addition to the farmers market.
"We hope to be able to use it year round," adds Ellen Russell, director of the chamber of commerce for Pontotoc, "whether it's for holidays or Thanksgiving or Christmas — that type of holiday thing."
"There's going to be benefits, and they're going to have concerts," adds Bramlett. "There is going to be a lot of people that wouldn't regularly come to downtown Pontotoc come to downtown Pontotoc now."
The floor plans are completed, and the drawings are close to completion.
The design calls for electricity and running water so that the soon-to-be-created venue can appeal to a broad base of people.
"We're going to try to utilize all the buildings that are close by," adds Russell. "[We intend to] make it a close spot to come and meet, whether it's our Bodock Festival or whether it's an event that is an after hour type of event."
Organizers say it could be a great asset for a small city looking to increase its economic development.
