Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Honors Volunteers and Businesses at Annual Awards Dinner
Volunteers, community members and local business owners were honored during the Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, July 17 at The Aspen Room at the Stanley.
The following individuals and businesses were recognized for their commitment to the revitalization and preservation of Downtown Lee's Summit.
- Elle & Em Boutique, Outstanding Window Display
- Sheila Clark, Downtown Champion
- Shara Derks, New Member Dynamo
- Local Foundery, Top Façade Rehabilitation
- Arcade Alley, Best Exterior Signage
- Ben Rao, Mary Stacy Ambassador of the Year
- Bridge Space, Outstanding Special Project
- The Norris Family, Volunteer of the Year
- All A’Bloom, Business of the Year
- Lynn Hinkle, President’s Award
Three seats on the Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Board of Directors were up for election at the annual meeting. Current investors of the organization voted on a slate of candidates put forward by the organization’s nominating committee. The newly elected board members, to serve a three-year term, include:
- Tony Olson, Neighborhood Café
- Michele Spilker, Spilker McKeone and Nelson, PC
- Nick Swearngin, John’s Barber Shop
Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization and preservation of Downtown Lee’s Summit. For more information, visit www.downtownls.org.
2019 Outstanding Display Window – This award goes to the downtown business who consistently re-designs and decorates their store window displays in creative, original and eye-catching ways. This was voted on by the Promotions Committee. Rachel Roark at Elle & Em continues to create some of the most fun and eye-catching window displays in Downtown Lee’s Summit. She’s often changing them up to go along with the season or event happening downtown. Rachel styles creative outfits that bring people into her store and make them feel welcome!
2019 Downtown Champion – This award recognizes someone who does not own a business or property in downtown LS, but is consistently supportive of the downtown revitalization efforts. Sheila Clark does not own a shop or business in Downtown Lee’s Summit, but is constantly supporting events that Downtown LS Main Street is planning. Sheila is the first to volunteer for a committee or an event. Staff can always depend on her to show up. She always shopping, eating and drinking in Downtown LS and even brings friends along with her! We are honored to recognize Sheila and her love for Downtown Lee’s Summit.
2019 New Member Dynamo –This award is given to a new DLSMS investor who instantly became involved with downtown committees, events and programming, and is a strong advocate for the downtown revitalization efforts. Shara Derks opened Embers Candle Bar with her mom and sister in July of last year. She quickly jumped in and got involved with DLSMS and our Promotions Committee. She’s always seeking out ways to partner with other businesses and our organization. Earlier this year, she even started a monthly retail merchant meeting to brainstorm was to collaborate. Shara is a strong advocate for Downtown Lee’s Summit and all the businesses located here!
2019 Top Façade Rehabilitation – this award recognizes an outside rehab of the exterior of a building Ben Wine and Dave Eames took a simple block fire station at 307 SW Market and turned it into a needed retail shop in Downtown LS. Embracing the mid-century character of the building, Ben and Dave installed Brazilian walnut wood slats on the exterior of the buildings. They uncovered the old garage bays and put in 48 feet of storefront glass. This created a welcoming retail environment for Local Foundery. Local Foundery is also a finalist for Top Façade Rehabilitation at the Missouri Main Street State Conference on July 25.
2019 Best Exterior Signage – this award recognizes outstanding new signage for a Downtown business Arcade Alley Pat Maloney and Alex Ruiz opened a new arcade bar concept in Downtown Lee’s Summit in May. Pat and Alex worked with Collins Webb Architecture on the design of the building, and Fossil Forge Design for much of their signage inside and outside the bar. The neon signs on the exterior of the building grabs the customers’ attention and draws them inside. We are so excited to see more creative uses of neon over the next few years!
2019 Mary Stacy Ambassador of the Year – recognizes an individual that consistently recruits new businesses and volunteers for Downtown LS Ben Rao has owned a business in Downtown LS for many years. In the fall of 2018, he opened Bridge Space Lee's Summit a co-working space for Lee’s Summit entrepreneurs. Bridge Space currently has more than 60 businesses represented in its building. Ben had a great vision for providing incubator space for businesses to start and grow in Downtown Lee’s Summit.
2019 Outstanding Special Project –recognizes a special one-time project or activity that affects a downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization effort. Bridge Space Lee's Summit has brought thousands of people to Downtown Lee’s Summit in the year that it has been open. Ben and Amber are involved in DLSMS and always looking for ways to partner. Bridge Space’s members spend an average of $1,000 a week at Downtown businesses, some great economic impact for our district. With more than 100 employees officing out of Bridge Space will continue to boost our downtown economy.
2019 Volunteer of the Year –This is a special award that recognizes a volunteer whose commitment to the downtown revitalization efforts has generated value for downtown. The Norris Family has been volunteering for Downtown Lee’s Summit for as long as the staff can remember. Josh and Corey Norris moved to Downtown Lee’s Summit and quickly got involved in their community. Josh has been a valuable member of our Downtown Days Committee completely managing our beer set up and sales prior to and during that weekend. The event would not be possible without his dedication. Corey has served on our Piccadilly Committee and is a consistent helper for Farmers Market events throughout the year. She steps up any time we need her! Josh and Corey have also gotten their kids involved helping in downtown. Danya, Shea, and Cooper are some of the most detailed and quick volunteers we can find. They’ve helped us with stuffing and un-stuffing tote bags, setting up for Piccadilly, and planting flowers. They’re always up for any task we throw their way. We were so excited to recognize the Norris Family for all their hard work. Thanks for helping Downtown Lee’s Summit and instilling volunteerism into your kids!
2019 Business of the Year –This award is presented to a business located in downtown LS that shows excellence in all areas of business, community involvement and volunteerism. All A'Bloom Flower Design Barb has owned All A Bloom since December 2017 and has grown the business substantially in that time. After coming downtown, Barb immediately jumped in and got involved in DLSMS by serving on the Promotions Committee. She has helped with multiple events including Piccadilly and annual meeting. (Please note the beautiful centerpieces she designed this year!) She has even partnered with several downtown businesses providing flowers for their shops! We can always count on Barb to be involved in our events and help with whatever projects we have going on!
2019 President’s Award- Lynn Hinkle We want to take this time to recognize one of our most dedicated and resilient board members, Lynn Hinkle, with our President’s Award. Lynn has been on the board since 2013. She served as the board president from January 2015 until August 2017. Lynn led the organization through staff changes, and is one of reasons we have a solid staff and foundation today. She has continued to serve as a valuable board member and volunteer. We are so thankful for her service on our board!