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(LEX 18) — Monticello, Kentucky, is thought for its proximity to Lake Cumberland, but it surely’s additionally gained a status as a small city with an enormous coronary heart.
That’s why enterprise homeowners are taking an opportunity on their hometown and watching it repay. The small city has began to resemble one thing out of a Hallmark film, partly because of a gaggle of dreamers who needed to see Wayne County thrive.
“It’s the place we’re each from, and we selected to maneuver again right here, and we simply love Monticello,” mentioned Rhett Ramsey, an lawyer who opened a bookstore together with his spouse Charity final yr.
Major Road Books is situated simply the place it sounds, in downtown Monticello.
“Once I was little, there wasn’t something to do right here,” Charity, who’s additionally a nurse, instructed LEX 18. That’s not the case anymore after her lifelong dream of proudly owning a bookstore got here true. In July, they opened to a line stretching across the block and practically offered out of books.
“Standing right here taking a look at downtown and the shop that we created, on this group, it’s superior,” Rhett mentioned. “It’s unreal.”
Charity mentioned they wish to assist increase downtown Monticello due to their younger son Truett.
Simply down the road, the Suttons have the identical objective for his or her son Avett.
“These different companies began popping in, and folks inform us on a regular basis, I’ve by no means spent a lot time in downtown Monticello,” mentioned Mickey Sutton.
Mickey and Presley Sutton opened The Nest Inventive Arts Studio in September.
“We actually needed to speculate on this city as a result of we don’t need it to die,” mentioned Presley. “We now have a two-year-old and need him to develop up in a spot that’s enjoyable to reside.”
On one facet of the constructing, clients will discover handmade items from Kentucky artists. Within the studio, the Suttons host lessons and occasions.
“It actually helps having lots of people spend money on the city,” mentioned Presley. “You’ll be able to’t do it by your self. It takes lots of people which can be keen to assist.”
Mickey agrees.
“We get folks on a regular basis who say, ‘Nicely, I used to be on the bookstore, and so they despatched us right here, or I used to be at Rae + Palm.’ The group helps quite a bit,” he mentioned.
Rae + Palm is one other boutique serving to revitalize downtown Monticello. For the mom and daughter who personal the shop, dwelling and dealing right here is all about household.
“Whereas there’s good and unhealthy in all places, there’s quite a lot of good constructive issues,” mentioned Stacey Hatfield. “It feels extra like a family-type ambiance than an enormous metropolis would. Our children, I don’t know why, however they’ve all the time favored it right here and needed to remain.”
One other era is placing down roots in Monticello and altering its panorama—one enterprise and ebook at a time.
“I used to be all the time afraid folks had given up on small cities, and the downtown sq. and small companies had been a factor of the previous,” mentioned Rhett Ramsey. “However this mission of ours has given me hope of not simply what Monticello, however different small cities, can do.”
“If considered one of us grows, all of us develop, so all of us attempt to assist assist one another,” added Charity.
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