“I wanted something to say, ‘BAM! HERE WE ARE! Come in and check us out!”
Nephi has been undergoing a revolution of The New Age in the last few months with new businesses setting up shop, the curb appeal game stepping up a notch, and deep renovations happening up and down Main.
Jaime John, owner and founder of RYM Copy Express, expressed to me the love of her new sign. “I went with the blue because it’s a clean neat color. It gives that ‘BAM’ I was looking for,” said John.
“As the former Chamber of Commerce president, I just think it’s amazing. Main street is looking so much more professional, and cleaned up,” said John.
Across from RYM, just a few months ago The Boutique Across the Street opened its doors, and began a new section of mens clothing in their small chain of retailers.
Next door is a new business called Fay’s Door. Fay's Door is a non-profit Thrift Boutique shop (including consignment and furniture) for women, men, and teens, including a full-time Food Pantry.
Up the street is perhaps Nephi’s most popular new business, Bev’s. Their new light up sign is a wonderful addition to what used to be a relatively dark end of town. The line is often extending far around the small building, but their bright blue exterior and beautiful mural of a chipper little blonde gal on the side make for a nice eye spot.
The formerly empty lot in the plaza square by Ludlow Engineering and workforce services is all dug up and sprouting new foundations for a residence/building office complex. The building will be a home for the owner of Reed’s Drive In, but designed to blend in with the rest of the office buildings.
Vintage Roots opened newly renovated doors to a salon and real estate agency. Completely turned on its head, the decrepit building is now a bright yellow and soft grey establishment with great big inviting windows and a clean but vintage feel.
There is the new attorney building, newly bricked up and sign posted in professional lettering, the lack of a giant eyesore from a decaying mansion at the stop light, the newly opened Sherie’s Jeans and Things, Pistol Packing Cowgirls, and semi-recently opened BarnYard Chicks adding more evidence of the Make Nephi Beautiful Project we all anonymously signed onto.
The bright red details on Clean Freak and fresh paint add to the increasingly great level being set for businesses in Nephi. Even the old Far West Bank building, having since been changed over to Cache Valley, is gutting the dated insides to churn out a fabulous new lobby and exterior.
“The chamber of commerce is delighted with the new growth and changes made by our local business owners. We are experiencing resurgence in local businesses with more people willing to make changes to either promote their existing business or take a risk by starting a new business. We anticipate that as Nephi continues to grow we will see continued enlivenment in our local market,” said Clinton L. Painter, current Nephi Chamber of Commerce president.
Maybe it’s something in the water. Maybe I don’t even care what it is, because it’s great. The “good ol days” of a lit up main with bright colors, signs, and thriving businesses is coming back, and if you haven’t noticed already, look around. Take a “drag” down main and allow your eyes to revel in the glory of Make Nephi Beautiful.
