Orange barricades have blocked access to many roads leading into downtown Fortville over the past year. On Wednesdays, local organizers hosted a Visit the ‘Ville street festival to drive traffic downtown in support of local businesses.
FORTVILLE – It wasn’t easy navigating the sea of orange barricades to get to the Visit the ‘Ville event in downtown Fortville Wednesday night, but that was kind of the point.
As ongoing construction has wreaked havoc on local businesses over the past year, local supporters planned an event to drive customers downtown to support downtown shops and restaurants.
And support them they did.
Droves of people made their way up and down Main Street as the road was blocked off from 5:30-8:30 p.m., allowing guests to roam from shop to shop while enjoying a variety of family-friendly entertainment like live music, face painting and balloon animals, while kids took turns climbing inside a fire truck with help from Vernon Township firefighters.
The street festival was sponsored by the Town of Fortville, Fortville Action Inc., local businesses and BeLocal magazine, whose joint marketing efforts seemed to be a success.
All the tables were full on the sidewalk outside Los Maguelles Mexican restaurant around 6 p.m. Wednesday, as they were outside the 305 Wine Garage.
Kevin LaBarr, who owns the wine garage with his wife, Cora, said it was a wonderful sight to see.
“It’s great seeing the community out here supporting us and the business owners supporting one another,” said LaBarr, who took over the wine garage in June 2023, after the roads leading downtown had already been closed for the long-term construction projects.
While he and his wife have experienced steady growth after switching up the menu and introducing craft beer, as well as some interior upgrades, LaBarr anticipates business will really pick up once the roads reopen, restoring easy access to patrons from all sides of town.
He’s been told all road construction should be complete downtown by the end of the year.
“I don’t think we’ll have the winter blues like this place had suffered in the past,” he said.
LaBarr, who owns three other restaurants with his wife in the Indianapolis area, said the restaurant business can be exhausting, but that the quaint, cozy wine garage in Fortville “is like a sanctuary for us.”
They enjoy the small-town atmosphere of the Fortville business district, which is centered on a quarter-mile stretch of Main Street which runs right through the heart of town.
“What’s cool is it’s like a step back in time. It’s peaceful and relaxing, and yet it can be vibrant too. You get the best of both worlds,” said LaBarr, as patrons filled the street Wednesday night.
Megan Vandergrift smiled as her 3-year-old niece danced around to the kid-friendly tunes played by a local band.
The Fortville resident came out to support local business owners like her mom, Stacey Molander, who owns the Rusted Window home decor and gift store.
She expressed her thanks to groups like Fortville Action, Inc. for organizing Wednesday’s block party.
“I think this has definitely helped bring people out, especially since we’ve had the road closures. Having events like this helps encourage people to come out to Main Street to shop and hang out, which is great,” she said.
LaBarr gave added praise to Fortville native Jake Burgess, who reinvigorated the downtown business scene when he opened FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale nine years ago.
“He needs a lot of kudos. I believe he put Fortville back on the map and got people to start coming here,” said LaBarr, as the party continued out in the streets.
