Sanford Main Street

08/22/2024

Join Sanford Main Street, Sanford, Sanford Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sanford, FL Government for a “State of the City” Luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Tickets are available at the link below.

Join the Sanford Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Sanford Main Street as they present and host the 2024 Sanford State of the City Luncheon. This annual luncheon is a time to reflect on the recent accomplishments of the City of Sanford and to look ahead at what's next for the city.

05/03/2024

Historic Sanford is your gateway to fun! Join our all-inclusive day trips to Historic Sanford from The Villages, and let the locals show you around.

To book a day trip, follow the link: https://experiencesanfordfl.com/MainStreet/

Your day trip will include:

- Round trip transportation from The Villages
- Lunch: Choose from 3 locally-owned dining options.
- Guided Tour: Choose from 3 unique tours hosted by Sanford locals.
- Shopping Spree: Spend and win a chance for a “I love Sanford“ gift basket.

$130 per person. Choose between 2 dates: May 29, 2024 ,or June 13, 2024.

04/09/2024

We need your help! Please share your opinion on how we can improve Downtown Sanford. The Survey takes about 5 minutes to complete, the survey is not just for residents of Sanford, we want visitors to please comment, too.

Thank you for your help!

Turn data collection into an experience with Typeform. Create beautiful online forms, surveys, quizzes, and so much more. Try it for FREE.

12/19/2023

Congratulations to our 2023 Christmas Window Decor winners!

Our panel of judges selected 3 winners:

1st Place - Colonial Room Country Store

2nd Place - The Warehouse Resale/Thrift

3rd Place - Saige Novelties & Gifts

The People’s Choice Award went to:

Board & Brush Sanford, FL

The People’s Choice Award was determined by the number of “likes” each business’s photo received by midnight, Dec. 15, on the Sanford Main Street post.

Stop by all of the participating businesses and check out the window displays, and pick up some last-minute Christmas gifts. 🎅 🌲 

12/19/2023

Anyone recognize our newest Sanford Main Street Visitor of the Day? It’s Debi Thomas, the 1986 World Figuring Skating champion who won a bronze medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Thomas was the first Black athlete to ever win a medal at the Winter Olympics.

Thomas, who now lives in Central Florida, was in Downtown Sanford shopping for stocking stuffers with Sanford resident Kelley Wilson Magee.

Thanks for visiting Downtown Sanford, Debi (and Kelley)!

12/14/2023

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unfortunate cancellation of this year's highly anticipated street festival, Sanford Jingle Jam. The decision has been made in consideration of the safety and well-being of our cherished residents and visitors due to projected poor weather.

12/07/2023

Congratulations to Jennifer DeMarce, winner of the Sanford Main Street Small Business Weekend passport drawing.

Jennifer, who is from Bushnell, Florida, visited all of the participating stores during Small Business Weekend to get her passport stamped. Her passport was selected during a random drawing from the dozens of other completed passports.

Thanks to all who came out and supported our downtown businesses. Shopping local helps make Downtown Sanford a more vibrant place.

12/07/2023

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Christmas Window Display. Each “like” is a vote and the photo with the most likes will win the People’s Choice award.

A big thank you goes out to a special group of volunteers who took time from their busy schedules to judge all of the window displays. We’ll announce their selections, as well as the People’s Choice award during Jingle Jam on Dec. 16.

Our judges were:

Chip Colandreo - Lake Mary Life
Andrea Herr - Seminole County Commissioner
Meg Harrell - Travel Content Creator
Becc Lester-Beam - Seminole County Chamber
Nancy Blauers - Artist

11/28/2023

Each Like is a vote!

Shops in Historic Downtown Sanford have unveiled their 2023 Holiday Window Displays and People’s Choice voting has begun.
Guest are encouraged to vote on their favorite window display!

Each participating window has a prominently displayed QR code that, once scanned, directs to our page photo album where anyone can vote on their favorite display. Voting begins during the Tree Lighting and winners will be announced at Jingle Jam on December 16th.

In addition to People Choice Facebook voting, we have invited a few celebrity guest judges to pick the top three Grand Prize Winners!

People Choice Winner – Tours donated by Brenda
3rd Place - $150
2nd Place - $250
1st Place - $500

Magpies 213 E 1st st

Jeanine Taylors 211 E 1st st

Treehouse Antiques 208 E 1st st

Colonial Room Sweets 105 e 1st st

Saige Novelties and Gifts 111 East 1st

Board and Brush 111 N Oak Ave

Warehouse Thrift 222 Magnolia Ave

Hollerbach's Outfitters 111 Magnolia Ave

Triple Goddess Treasures 500 Sanford Ave

Bicikleta Bike Shop 229 Magnolia Ave

10/17/2023

JINGLE JAM UPDATE!!:
The City of Sanford has approved Sanford Main Street’s application to host Jingle Jam 2023!!

We’ll have more details in a couple of days, however our Board of Directors wanted to let the public know that this annual event will happen Saturday, Dec. 16. We appreciate the support we received from the community several weeks ago when we announced the event was canceled.

The board also sends a giant thank you to Mayor Art Woodruff, Sheena R Britton, City of Sanford - Commissioner District 1 and the rest of the City Commission for approving the event. Additional thanks to Commissioner Patrick Austin for agreeing to use some of his discretionary budget to provide some funding for Jingle Jam.

Jennifer Brooks, the city’s special events coordinator, also deserves a big thank you as well for all of her hard work and support of Jingle Jam.

That’s all for now folks, we’ll have more details soon. Thanks again for all your support! We’ll see you Dec. 16!!!!

09/29/2023

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANFORD!

To celebrate the city of Sanford’s 146th birthday, tell us why you love Sanford. 😎

09/21/2023

TELL SANFORD LEADERS WHAT YOU THINK!

The city of Sanford has hired Polco, a Madison, WI.-based data firm, to conduct a survey gathering residents input on future priorities for the city.

Residents can take the survey by clicking on this link:

http://polco.us/sanford2023a

After taking the survey, residence will be asked for their email address, and their home address. This is to ensure that individual residence. Do not take the survey multiple times. The survey responses will be separated from email and home address information, thus ensuring that the responses are anonymous, according to a city press release.

Please have this survey completed by an adult (age 18 or older) who lives in this household. Your responses are confidential and no identifying information will be shared.

09/21/2023

Join us tonight!
Sanford Art & Jazz Night

09/14/2023

Love OBJ and Winter Garden but if Sanford is the “next Winter Garden,” then Sanford is taking a few steps backwards. Take a 10-minute walk from the center of downtown and you’ll find:
31 restaurants/eateries (including German, Greek, Irish, Jamacain, Sushi, Belgium, Korean, Peruvian, Mexican, Hawaiian and Raman just to mention a few)
5 breweries
A winery
A distillery
18 retail shops
2 active performing arts theaters
3 dedicated music venues (plus live music at most restaurants/breweries.
A museum
An art gallery
2 bakeries
A German deli
A grocery store
A residential historic district with 434 historic homes.
Lake Monroe and the RiverWalk
2 city parks
A splash pad
>

09/13/2023

Sanford Main Street making a splash nationally as our board president, Christina Hollerbach is interviewed for Main Street America’s Business Insights podcast. goes national 😎

In this week’s episode of Main Street Business Insights, host Matt Wagner sat down with the CEO of Hollerbach's German Restaurant in Sanford, Fla., Christina Hollerbach.

In her conversation with Matt, Christina discusses how she has created and led a thriving company culture through the pandemic and beyond, her strategies for growth and expansion, and advice for newer Main Street business owners.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/47KISp8

09/11/2023

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER

Meet Erika and Chris Elfstrom, owners of Board & Brush Sanford, FL, which is Sanford Main Street’s Business of the Month for September.

It’s not often date night leads to a business deal, but that’s what happened to Erika and Chris Elfstrom.

The Deland couple attended a craft workshop at Sanford Board & Brush in downtown (111 N Oak Ave.).

“We had a really good time, and I came back a couple weeks later, and brought some friends,“ said Erika.

It was on the second visit that Erica found out that the owner wanted to sell the Sanford business. “I came home and said to Chris, ‘Do you want to buy Board & Brush?’ “

Erika is a certified dog groomer and started her own grooming business in 2008. She’s also a crafts lover, so buying Board & Brush Sanford was a natural fit for her entrepreneurial spirit.

Board & Brush Sanford is a DIY craft workshop where customers build and paint their own personalized home decor. Beer, wine and set drinks are available during the workshops, which awe designed for social events - girls’ nights out, holiday parties, corporate team-building and even kids birthday parties.

“The kids love using the hammers and paint brushes,” Erika said.

Although the crafts have an artistic component, you don’t have to be artist to create a great looking piece.

“You don’t have to worry about free-handing anything. We have stencils and instructors to help,” Erika said.

Chris noted that plenty of men attend the workshops, but sometimes their projects don’t look as good as the women’s crafts.

“The men don’t always wait for instructions. They think they already no how to do it,” Chris chuckled.

The projects generally take about 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. Erika said Board & Brush Sanford has some 800 designs to choose from, including some mini projects that only take about 90 minutes to complete.

Most of the signs hanging inside Board & Brush Sanford are available for purchase, Erika said.

If you want to see what one of Erika’s workshops are about, Board & Brush Sanford is offering a mini make-and-take class at Deviant Wolfe Brewing (121 W 1st St) on Thursday, Oct. 19 during Sanford Main Street’s monthly Sanford Art & Jazz Night. The project will take about 15 minutes to complete.

“ It seems like all the downtown business try to work together, so we’re always looking for ways to collaborate,” Erika said.

And if Friday the 13th isn’t too scary for you, check out Board & Brush Sanford’s Halloween Witches Night on Friday, Oct. 13, that will include bingo and prizes.

Make it a dare night, you never know what it might lead to.

09/01/2023

THE $2 MILLION LADIES

Congratulations to Sanford-based Ladies 327, Inc. for being named the Non-Profit of the Year by the Seminole County Chamber!

Ladies 327 partners with many Downtown Sanford businesses to raise money for charitable organizations. The non-profit also operates the Kid Zones at many downtown events. Since 2015, Ladies 327 has raised $2 million in money, goods and services for the Sanford community.

Kudos to Kim Colegrove and her group of dedicated volunteers for all their hard work that lead to the Non-Profit of the Year award! 😎👍🏼🎉🥂

09/01/2023

CHEERS TO THE BEER BROTHERS

Congratulations to Dees Brothers Brewery for being named the Business of the Year by the Seminole County Chamber! The brewery won the award in the hospitality and retail category.

Stop by Dees Brothers this weekend and celebrate their award by purchasing one of their tasty beers!

Dees Brothers Brewing is one of more than 60 small businesses that call Downtown Sanford home. Come see all we have to offer. 😎

08/29/2023

The Sanford, Information Center (230 E. 1st St.) and the Sanford Main Street office will be closed Wednesday,Aug. 30, 2023 because of hurricane Idalia.

08/23/2023

Meet Jade and Corrine of Altkirch France, our Sanford Main Street Visitors of the Day.

Jade and Corinne are vacationing in Central Florida to see their friend Harry Potter. Even though their home city on the Switzerland/Germany border dates back to 1370, they visited downtown Sanford to see the “old” buildings and houses.

As you can see, Jade and Corrine have some practice posing for the camera. 😎📸

Thanks for visiting Jade and Corrine!

08/16/2023

SOON TO BE NEWLYWEDS

Meet Rebekah Rouchard of Geneva, FL, and Harrison Jones of Poole, England, our Sanford Main Street Visitors of the Day.

Rebekah and Harrison were in downtown Sanford to pick up a marriage license for their upcoming wedding on Aug. 26.

The couple met in church and plan to move to England after the wedding.

Congratulations Rebekah and Harrison!

08/14/2023

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH MAKES DOWNTOWN SANFORD A LITTLE SWEETER

Meet Victoria Robinson-Wilson, owner of Simply Homemade 1913, Sanford Main Street’s Business of the Month for August 2023.

Victoria saw an opportunity to open her business during a time when others saw despair.

Victoria opened Simply Homemade 1913, a bakery in downtown Sanford, Fla. during the 2020 Covid pandemic when small businesses were barely holding on - or shutting down for good.

“In our family, and in the black community in general, the dinner table is where the love is. It’s where we comfort each other when times are tough, and it’s where we celebrate when times are good,” Victoria said.

In 2020 times were tough. Victoria thought it was the perfect time to open a business that would offer a slice of comfort by selling the sweet treats her grandmother taught her to bake in Barberville, S.C.

Her bakery quickly gained a loyal following with its wide selection cobblers, cakes, pies and cookies reminiscent of a classic covered-dish church picnic.

And while Victoria, a former attorney, is mindful of the business of baking, she knows that a little charity is what separates community-based businesses from the corporate chains.

She provides discounts to members of the military, Seminole County teachers, active members of PTA and PTSA members, as well as city of Sanford employees.

Victoria has also created a “Cake it Forward” board. If you don’t have money for one of her hand-made desserts, you can take a tag off the board and redeem it for a mini bundt cake or pack of cookies. The tags are funded by the tips other customers leave. The “Cake it Forward” board is available to anyone young or old, but she had kids in mind when she created it because of her own childhood.

“I was one of 7 kids, and we didn’t have a lot of money. When our parents said we all had to split a dessert, I would cry and not take any,” Victoria said. “I’d rather do without than try to split a piece of cake 7 different ways.”

So when a parent comes into her bakery and tells their children they have to split a dessert, she tells them about the “Cake it Forward” board.

“They get their own cookie, and they get the flavor they want,” she points out.

Victoria and Simply Homemade 1913’s “Cake it Forward” board is a small gesture that makes downtown Sanford just a little sweeter.

Stop in and see Victoria at Simply Homemade 1913, located at 113 S Oak Ave., just around the corner from Slam Pizza

07/25/2023

HGTV’s John Gidding in Sanford this Friday.

07/25/2023

Thanks to Tina Marie for this article about the 3 Henrys - Sanford, Plant and Flagler - who helped create the citrus industry in Florida.

07/17/2023

Congratulations to Leetza Wolff, the winner of the drawing for our Christmas in July event.

Leetza is from Maryville, Tenn., or as East Tennessee locals say it “Murville.” 😎 Leetza was in Sanford for a wedding and decided to visit the 18 participating retail shops on the Christmas in July passport before attending the ceremony.

She picked up her prizes, which included many gift cards, Sunday afternoon before she flew back to Tennessee, but she said she plans to return for several days very soon to do some more shopping.

Thanks for spending timer in Sanford, Leetza! And thanks to everyone who visited downtown this weekend!