Uptown Mount Vernon surviving pandemic

Although it has been tough on main street businesses, the pandemic did not close any uptown Mount Vernon storefronts to date.

“We came back in a big way and are basically back where we were before the pandemic. That doesn’t mean businesses aren’t still struggling to make up for that horrible year,” says Joe Jennison, Director of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group. 

Jennison was pleased that the town didn’t lose any restaurants to the pandemic, although the Skillet Café at the corner of First Street and Highway 1 closed in late August, in large part for other reasons. Two shared outdoor dining areas were created uptown by converting parking spots.

“We have a strong local community that knew businesses were in trouble and supported them,” he said. “The fire department even worked with all of our restaurants to deliver food.” 

At the First Street Community Center, three retail businesses closed and three opened in their place. The original high school building has been converted into retail and community space and is located just one block from the uptown intersection.

Bauman’s clothing store, owned by Olivia Cotton Randall ’13 and Josh Randall ’14, recently beat out four competitors in a pitch contest to win a $20,000 state grant available only to Main Street Iowa businesses, which will help them convert the store’s basement into a shoe department.

Jennison reports that the uptown area, from the community center to the visitors center near the water tower, is home to 64 businesses: 30 retail, 25 service, and 9 restaurant-bars.