Downtown Franklin Association Announces New Committee Slate
Franklin Juice Bar Franchise Owner Jason Collins Fills Open Spot
The Downtown Franklin Association (DFA), an organization of more than 170 local business owners committed to historic preservation and economic vitality, has added new Board members. As the organization for Franklin’s accredited Main Street Program — and a subsidiary of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County — the DFA follows the four-point program of the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The organization recently revealed its fresh slate of executive committee members, with Tin Cottage Owner Marianne DeMeyers continuing to serve as the Board president.
Joining DeMeyers for 2016-17 are Vice President Jason Collins of Juice Bar Franklin, Treasurer Ed Cagle of FirstBank, Secretary Jan Marshall of A. Marshall Family Foods Inc., Promotions Chair Julie Walton Garland of Walton’s Antique & Estate Jewelry, Design Chair Ernie Reynolds of Outdoor Classic Structures, and Organization Chair Deborah Warnick of the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
New to the DFA Board is Jason Collins, owner of Juice Bar Franklin franchise. Juice Bar Franklin, located at 232 Fifth Avenue North, is a vegetarian, gluten-free and organic restaurant, with locally sourced products and plenty of “superfood” options.
After purchasing the building in early 2014, Collins and his partners went to work renovating and restoring what was formerly the Old Meat Locker during the 1940’s. Today, a wooden deck ushers guests into a naturally lit dining area with locally reclaimed, hand-crafted tables and floors and framed, vintage collectibles lining the walls. The result is a bright and cheery spot on Fifth Avenue that welcomes drivers into Historic Downtown Franklin.
Just 14 miles south of Nashville, Historic Downtown Franklin captures the beauty of the past while providing an oasis of Southern hospitality housed in a 16-block National Register district of award-winning antique shops, brick-and-mortar gift and book stores, fashion-forward boutiques, privately owned art galleries, lovingly restored homes and more.
In May of 1995, Franklin was honored as one of the best downtown areas in the nation when it received one of five “Great American Main Street” awards in the first year of an annual competition held by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Since then, accolades have included the “Best Small Town in Tennessee,” “America’s Most Romantic Main Street” and “One of America’s Greatest Antique Destinations,” among others.
Recently Travel + Leisure Magazine named Franklin 8th best town in the nation. In 2014, Garden & Gun magazine named Franklin the “Best Southern Town” following an online readers poll.
The DFA — made up of local business owners and merchants — is lead by Director Kristy Williams.
To learn more about Historic Downtown Franklin and the work of the Downtown Franklin Association, visit www.downtownfranklintn.com.
More About Downtown Franklin Association
Since its founding in 1984, the Downtown Franklin Association (DFA) has spearheaded the revitalization of Franklin’s historic downtown core. We’ve done it by following the four-point program of the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation: Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Vitality.
Working in partnership with the Heritage Foundation of Franklin & Williamson County – the DFA’s parent organization – and with property owners, preservationists, city and county government, and local businesses in our historic retail district, the DFA has helped create one of the nation’s Main Street success stories. We’ve earned national recognition as an authentic, eclectic place that offers something for everyone in an atmosphere that reminds locals and visitors alike of a simpler time in our history – a place where community matters.