6:54 p.m.: Pendleton's State Street on National Register of Historic Places

By Aleasha Sandley

August 24, 2008 06:51 pm

— PENDLETON — In the three generations that The Flower Cart florist and tuxedo shop has served shoppers on downtown Pendleton’s State Street, the street has been a hub of change.
It might look similar to what it did 34 years ago when Doris and Willie Thetford opened the shop — downtown Pendleton has been preserved on the National Register of Historic Places — but a closer look reveals that street has changed from housing downtown necessities to become a shopper’s and diner’s paradise.
Instead of the quintessential downtown grocery store, five-and-dime and hardware store, State Street’s nostalgic buildings now house gift shops, home and garden furnishings, novelty stores and restaurants.
“Just the faces of the businesses have changed numerous times,” said Dennis Ashley, who now manages The Flower Cart, which still is owned by his mother, Diane Ashley. “The way that the businesses have recycled themselves, antiques and crafts came in; today there are restaurants and coffee shops.”
Although The Flower Cart has become a State Street staple, new businesses have enjoyed success on the street too. Jessica Greene and JB Privett joined in State Street’s new look when they opened their gift gallery, Daisy J’s, this month.
“It’s becoming more of a destination more so than just a functional downtown,” Greene said.
Greene and Privett both already own shops in Pendleton’s downtown — Twigs home and decor shop and The Sister Exchange clothing consignment shop, respectively — but neither shop is on State Street, downtown’s main drag.
“We know that the foot traffic in Pendleton is on State Street,” Greene said. “We have a beautiful building with great visibility. It’s a dream space.
“State Street’s equivalent to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.”
Pendleton’s downtown area is flanked by Indiana 67 to the east and Interstate 69 to the west with State Street running through the middle. The confined space between the major thoroughfares has allowed Pendleton to remain small and keep State Street as the heart of the town, Ashley said.
“We’re starting to grow a little bit, but it all runs right on State Street,” he said. “Hopefully we can keep up with the times. Hopefully our streetscapes can reflect our progressive nature.”
Tom Hull and Leigh Alexander opened Word For Word used bookstore a year and a half ago in downtown Pendleton. They chose State Street because of the high level of foot traffic and visible storefront, Hull said.
“If we were anywhere else I don’t think we’d be doing as well as we are,” said Hull, who grew up in Pendleton. “We always thought it would be nice to have a bookstore here in the area. It’s a nice setting. It’s a nice environment, family friendly.”
In an effort to encourage downtown Pendleton shopping, many stores have decided to stay open later on Thursdays through the summer. Word for Word will stay open until 9 p.m.
Themed events in Pendleton’s downtown also bring more people to the area, said Evey Marie, owner of Evey’s Home and Garden on State Street. The town tries to have an event once a month to promote downtown shopping.
Pendleton’s history also draws people to State Street. The town often has events that promote its artistic and historical roots, Marie said. Just to the east and west of State Street’s downtown shopping district lie blocks of large historic homes on the tree-lined street.
“One of the most unique things about this town is the blend of the art and history,” she said. “It works really well for this little town. The atmosphere is more conducive to arts. Shoppers look for unique items, and people come from all over to shop.”
Evey’s only has been in Pendleton for about three months, having been located in northern Anderson before that.
“It wasn’t the right location,” Marie said. “Everyone said it looked like a Pendleton shop. The nature of the shop owner business is not in Anderson.”
Although State Street businesses have many of the same customers, it isn’t often that they go head-to-head in competition, Hull said. Shop owners go out of their way to help each other, and the rest of the town has been supportive of downtown businesses, giving ideas and buying their merchandise.
Most of State Street’s businesses are members of Pendleton’s business association, of which Ashley is the president. The association’s goal is to enhance and nurture an inviting atmosphere for economic activity in the town and create more public awareness of Pendleton, Ashley said.
“Small-town boutique shopping is a niche in the shopping experience that one may look for,” he said. “State Street provides that for Pendleton. You get the unique shopping experience that you don’t get at malls and big box shopping.”


About the Series
Each Monday, The Herald Bulletin is profiling a street in Madison County in our On Your Street series. What’s on the street? Who lives there? What is the history? Those are questions we’ll try to answer. And it’s not just streets. Roads, boulevards and lanes will be included. If you have a street you’d like to nominate for our coverage, let Stephen Dick, assistant managing editor, know. Reach him at The Herald Bulletin, 1133 Jackson St., Anderson 46016 or (765) 640-4863 or steve.dick@heraldbulletin.com.

Businesses along Pendleton’s historic State Street include:
• Antiques
Arts-Antiques of Pendleton, 132 W. State St.
Burmeister’s Old Towne Antiques, 130 W. State St.
Finders Keepers, 123 W. State St.
• Restaurants
Barista’s EmPOURium, 124 W. State St.
The Bank Restaurant, 110 W. State St.
• Specialty shops
Crafts From the Heart, 114 W. State St.
Evey’s Home and Garden, 118 W. State St.
Gaia Natural Foods, 207 W. State St.
Gifts From the Hearthstead Way, 128 W. State St.
k.c. Paws, 104 W. State St.
Satin Stitches, 107 W. State St.
Something Old, Something New Bridal Studio, 138 W. State St.
tadpoles, 206 W. State St.
The Flower Cart, 105 W. State St.
The Gypsy Shoe & T.H. Blevins Photography Studio, 116 W. State St.
Word for Word, 108 W. State St.
Daisy J’s, 106 W. State St.
• Salon
Head Bangers, 101 W. State St.
• Services
H&R Block, 120 W. State St.
Linnie B’s Laundromat, 116 E. State St.
Madison County Glass & Mirror, 107 E. State St.
Times-Post, 126 W. State St.
Pendleton Town Hall, 119 W. State St.
M&I Bank, 115 W. State St.
First Merchants Bank, 100 E. State St.

Source: Pendleton Retail Association>/b>