GAINESVILLE - Main Street Gainesville celebrated its 10th anniversary with its annual meeting and awards banquet Wednesday night - and a man who has been a leader of the downtown business community for years says he wishes the Main Street affiliation has happened sooner.<br>
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Lorrie Schrage, the owner of Saul's department store, has watched downtown evolve from the time it was the only retail center in Hall County to a period when merchants were fleeing to suburban shopping centers to the revitalization of the area - the downtown Gainesville we see today. <br>
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A second generation downtown businessman, Schrage says his father would be proud of the way downtown has bounced back in recent years to once again become a vibrant part of the local economy. Schrage says downtown was never dead but it was probably dying; however, now, business is good and he sees a bright future for downtown.<br>
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During Wednesday night's meeting, thirteen Golden Nail Awards were handed out by Main Street Gainesville. The awards are for downtown remodeling, renovation or new construction projects - representing an investment of more than $4.3 million dollars and the creation or restoration of 109 jobs. Main Street Gainesville says since 1995, nearly $72 million has been invested in downtown, creating or retaining more than 400 jobs.<br>
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The Gainesville City Council was also recognized for "the great partnership between local government and the private sector." The council was singled-out for three specific downtown projects, which are listed below.<br>
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GOLDEN NAIL WINNERS<br>
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1. Princeton Salon & Day Spa - Karen & Heath Gayton - 200 Washington St. Ste. B<br>
2. SEABONES Restaurant - Rocky & Jeanna Pridgen/Brian & Angela Key -<br>
200 Washington St., Ste. A<br>
3. Inside/Out Accents - Katie King/ Jenny Blankenship - 114 Washington Street<br>
4. Across the Pond - MariBeth & Sonny Hartsook - 115 Bradford Street<br>
5. Sunrise Bakery Café - Kathy Vitti - 118 Main Street<br>
6. The Upper Deck Skate Shop - Mary Praglia - 118 Main Street<br>
7. The Bistro - Debra & Doug Harkrider - 118 Main Street<br>
8. Chandelle & Dan Summer - 107 Washington Street<br>
9. The Summer House - Joy Bilthouse - 100 Washington Street<br>
10. Shuler's Great Outdoors - Jerry Schuler - 310 Broad Street<br>
11. The Simpson Company - Frank Simpson - 425 Spring Street<br>
12. Fox, Chandler, Homans, Hicks & McKinnon, LLP - Graham McKinnon -125 Maple Street<br>
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CITY OF GAINESVILLE PROJECTS<br>
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1. West Academy/Washington Street<br>
2. Train Restoration<br>
3. Square Repaving<br>
