Charlotte Sun (Port Charlotte, FL) – Tuesday, January 1, 2013
I have a friend who lives in Sarasota and for years she told me Englewood was just a wide spot in the road she had to go through to get to Boca Grande where she liked taking her out-of-town guests.
But she has now discovered Englewood, she says. She has a regular tour she takes her guests on. First, it’s an early-morning walkabout in one of Englewood’s nature parks. Then it’s onward to the Thursday farmers market on Dearborn; then to Indian Mound Park for a picnic lunch she has prepared and then back to Dearborn for coffee, ice cream and a tour of the shops.
I think her attitude is typical of those who are coming to check us out. She likes the small-town ambiance, no real crowds, the very friendly people, no parking problems and being able to get so close to the water.
For years, the trend for Englewoodites was to go northward to Venice and Sarasota to shop, to dine, to party, and in later years when the mall opened, southward to Port Charlotte. But people in surrounding areas didn’t come to Englewood to do the same. I think that trend has been broken and West Dearborn Street is playing an important role.
We can no longer say we are a little town that no one knows about. We have been discovered.
Dearborn Street’s origins go back to a walking path and an oxen trail laid out by the William Goff family, Englewood’s first settlers. It eventually became the area’s commercial center. Today, after 134 years of history with some ups and downs, although it is no longer the only commercial area in town as it once was, West Dearborn Street remains active and lively and has become a destination.
It was truly a banner year for Dearborn Street in 2012 with its many successful events. These days there are endless activities on Dearborn all year round.
The most amazing event on Dearborn in 2012 was the visit of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall in Pioneer Park. It was estimated nearly 9,000 people, many from out of town, came to see it.
The Pioneer Days Parade, another big event, was once again a real crowd pleaser with attendance estimated close to 10,000.
Add the Rotary Club’s highly popular July Fourth Cajun Fest, the Winter Fine Arts Festival, the classic car displays, the Dearborn Street Book Festival, the Wine Walk, the Cracker Fair and the new Christmas Parade — all were attended in record numbers this year.
But nothing has -energized Dearborn or had such an impact as the weekly farmers market held October through April. This venture has wildly surpassed all expectations, bringing as many as 4,500 people to Dearborn Street weekly.
People come from all around to buy produce, tomatoes that taste like tomatoes, freshly-picked greens and Florida citrus. They are also finding excellent cheeses, seafood, breads, quiches, cupcakes, the very popular guacamole from Miami, plants, herbs, orchids and other items.
I have seen FPL and UPS drivers who come to the farmers market just for lunch — both groups always seem to know the best places to eat. I know of a group that comes from Punta Gorda to shop. Boca Grande residents have been spotted.
With 52 diverse -vendors, it has become the second-largest -farmers market in Sarasota County and many say, the most interesting. It is held every Thursday through April from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Englewoods on Dearborn is another reason out-of-towners are coming to Dearborn Street. With its weekly live blues and Caribbean music concerts featuring nationally-known musicians, it is becoming a blues destination, -attracting fans from all over Florida including as far away as Miami.
Diana Harris writes a regular column for the Sun. Email her at diharris@comcast.net.
