ARDMORE, OK -- Promoting a healthy economy in any city includes supporting local businesses. In Ardmore, Ryan Matlack has been able to live out his dream as the owner of Ten Star Pizza on Main Street.
"For a while, there wasn't a lot of stuff down here, but with the history of this town, with the business owners themselves, I think Ardmore is embracing downtown again. It's fantastic," said Matlack.
Main Street Ardmore is a collection of buildings- many more than 100 years old. In order to preserve the historic facades, Main Street needs a guardian.
"Part of our job at the Main Street Authority is to promote our downtown businesses. With fundraisers like this we can put on the downtown Parade of Lights that bring people downtown," Main Street Authority director Julie Patterson explained.
That type of preservation takes money- big money. The foundation is sponsoring its fourteenth annual Fantasy in Chocolate Fundraiser on February 11.
"This is the largest fundraiser we do. It allows us to put on our other events throughout the year, but also it allows us to preserve the historic part of our downtown," Patterson said.
That means good things for business owners like Matlack, who specifically chose to open his restaurant downtown.
"The people of Ardmore have opened their arms to this. It's not fast food pizza. It's a place you can come in and hang out, relax, and have a good time," Matlack said of his downtown eatery.
He adds that it's a major effort to preserve the area and many groups are cooperating to make sure it happens.
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