Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 9

191 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9 Protecting and preserving the beautiful architectural heritage of Smyrna’s downtown historic district is a priority for the Downtown Historical Review Board. The rich history of the community is curated by The Duck Creek Historical Society, a non-profit organization operating out of The Smyrna Museum, an iconic historic downtown building. On the grounds behind the museum, visitors can view Plank House, one of the last original examples of early Swedish Delaware plank dwelling architecture from the late 1700s. Another historically significant downtown showpiece is the Smyrna Opera House, originally built in 1870 and restored in 2003 as a community cultural arts centre. Owned by the town, the opera house is run by a non-profit organization whose mission is to offer affordable access to the arts, while showcasing and developing artistic talent in the area. While preservation is ongoing, revitalization is also top of mind for the Town of Smyrna. Haines TOWN OF SMYRNA , DELAWARE recounts, “Last month there was an applicant looking to redevelop and it really spurred the bigger conversation about what we can do downtown, and what we can sustain. The next generation wants that walkable community, that ability to be downtown and have amenities, restaurants, and shops to go to.” With a variety of great businesses already including Sheridan’s Irish Pub, The Yarn Maven, Our Table and Thyme, Guzzy Q, Sayers Jewelers, and Smyrna Cards and Gifts, the town is hoping to attract more, while also creating opportunities for mixed-use developments and redevelopment. An example of redevelopment in downtown Smyrna is The Painted Stave, the first standalone small batch distillery in the State of Delaware. Converted from an old theater building, the distillery serves cocktails and local wine and beer. As developments like this continue to draw people into the downtown, work continues on what Haines describes as “the not so glamourous pieces.” He notes, “We have to make sure we have