Main Street opening doors to renovations

Published 7:16 am Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Those eager to take a look at some of the new digs downtown will be able to walk right in this evening.

The Austin Main Street Project is hosting an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight for downtown businesses that have recently been remodeled.

Recent remodeling projects have stretched from businesses surrounding the old bank building, located at 300 North Main St., to the old site of Marty’s Hobbycraft, now the Style Lounge Salon.

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“So much work has been done on the inside of these buildings that we wanted the public to see the transformations first hand,” Austin Main Street Project Executive Director Sarah Douty said in a press release.

The former First National Bank Building will be open to the public for the first time in years, as well as Mickey’s, the Bakery bar and the Philomathian — businesses that share a common back lobby entrance area. Second level apartments above these businesses will also be featured.

The storefront area of Mickey’s bar was one of the first visible projects that took place on the block located near 200 Main St. The bar’s co-owner, Cliff Wollschlager, said he’s heard nothing but great reviews.

“Everyone who has come in has really liked the changes that have been made,” he said.

Down the block, the doors of the Style Lounge Salon and Novedades Crystal will be open for the show, as well as the apartments located above the shops.

Twin Cities Attorney Patrick Bradley purchased the former First National Bank building, along with four surrounding business buildings, in the hopes of creating an attached unit of businesses, including restaurants, bars and retail shops.

“With this event, we want people to come out, meet the building and business owners and see the commitment and the investment that continues to be made in our downtown,” Douty said.