now grown into a larger location and become very successful,”McKay relays when talking about locally owned businesses that dot the town center. Other businesses, both Mayor Burris and McKay point out, represent long-time investments in the community. “We have several multi-generational businesses such as the Olde Town Pub,” McKay says. “One of the owners is John MacDonald and now two of his sons have opened a restaurant called Mac’s Tap and Table.We also have several mom and daughterowned businesses. Marie & Nash is a retail shop and we have Flour Bakery, The Escape Room, Happy and Zen Crystals, and Fenwick Street Used Books and Music. These are all mother-daughter-owned businesses.” Adding to the appeal of the downtown area is the newly opened Rex Theatre as well as the Bell Motor Company complex which has been transformed into a retail experience that boasts several shops. Topnotch restaurants also grace the downtown center including Sweet Bay, The Front Porch, Il Piccolo, and others that have opened up over the last several years. The iconic Duke Building just reopened on the Town Square and is now home to Social Coffeehouse and Shepherd’s Old Field Market is an old lumber yard that has been transformed into a community gathering space including numerous shops, Botanic Deli and a beer garden! “Most of these businesses, almost 90 percent, in Leonardtown are locally-owned businesses,” Mayor Burris proudly states. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR FURTHER GROWTH Leonardtown has also devoted energy towards critical and civic infrastructure projects that are helping to lay the foundation for anticipated growth. “We are currently expanding our wastewater treatment plant, building a new 1 million gallon water storage tank and an additional production well to accommodate the growth,” Mayor Burris relays. “We are also working on sidewalk projects to connect Mayor Dan Burris and Town Administrator Laschelle McKay 296 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 07
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