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SELMA,
a Town Reborn!
Your Antique Destination on 1-95
Selma is a different place than it was a few years
ago. The changes are dramatic and profound for this
small town located on 1-95 and US 301 in rural
Johnston County. the Mayor, Town Manager and Town
Council made revitalization of downtown Selma their
number one priority and antique shopping is their
niche market.
Recognizing that 1-95 brings 43,000 cars past their
town daily, and with a convenient location situated
just 30 minutes from Wake County and Research
Triangle Park, Selma targeted this prime market of
potential visitors with substantial disposable
income.
A
well-devised plan to offer "free rent" of retail
space for one year to anyone who would open an
antique or arts store in Selma was put into place.
With well-placed newspaper stories, and advertising
in antique magazine publications, the prospective
dealers began calling. To date, over $1.5 million
has been spent by private businesses in the purchase
and renovation of buildings. Additional advertising
dollars were invested in billboards, radio and print
campaigns-the word spread and antique shoppers
came. The streets are lined daily with cars from
our of state and, on an average Saturday, hundreds
of antique shoppers will travel to Selma.
Shoppers will now find over 100,000 square feet of
antiques within walking distance of each other on a
picturesque 1950's street scrape. Antique dealers
work cooperatively to market Selma as a destination.
Visitors are made to feel welcome by me dealer's
friendly and inviting nature-truly united to make
Selma's revitalization a reality.
With success in one arena of retail shopping, Selma
has attracted more success with new restaurants
locating in downtown to feed hungry antique
shoppers. A blacksmith has opened forging ornamental
ironworks, a soap maker and quilt store add to the
variety of shopping and the town is seeking other
artisans such as glass blowers and potters to locate
in Selma. With all this added to their experience,
visitors will have new and interesting changes to
keep them coming back. Antique dealers currently are
planning an "All American Christmas Festival" to
attract holiday shoppers this December.
After the shopping is done, and visitors have found
Creech's Drugstore and enjoyed a old-fashioned
fountain lemonade, ice cream float or milk-shake...
an evening of entertainment in Selma awaits. The
American Music Jubilee in the renovated
Rudy Theatre,
offers live entertainment with country music and
comedy. This variety show is a touch of Myrtle Beach
and a touch of Branson in a 576-seat theatre. The
show is drawing church groups, motor coach groups
and visitors from up and down the East Coast. The
Southern Christmas Show is a must see for adults and
children of all ages, with the show beginning the
early November and running until the week before
Christmas, with added dates and matinees. Last
year's dates were completely sold our with over
30,000 visitors enjoying the show.
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