COLUMBIA, S.C. — If it wasn't for this project we are sitting in today, the downtown area would not look like what it does today. That's according to Lexington Mayor Steve MacDougall.
"It took a long time to buy this property and make sure we found a place that's right for Lexington," MacDougall said. "We knew it was a gamble. There is history that says if you use public funds and you invest them in an area in your town, the public will come out and support that as long as you do it with their input."
Since the amphitheater's opening, foot and motor vehicle traffic have all increased in numbers, according to MacDougall.
MacDougall said foot traffic has increased almost 30% within the last 2 years.
That and feeling a sense of community were reasons why Richard Kotlarek wanted to bring his Americanized taco cuisine to downtown Lexington.
"We do Saturday showcases at the amphitheater, so there's a lot of foot traffic on the weekends," Kotlarek said. "But when there is an event and there is something going on the community, seems to really be involved."
But what really sold him was knowing three more restaurants would be opening up across the street.
"The growth of the city really invigorates the flow of people coming in and giving them a reason to come to downtown Lexington," Kotlarek said.
Some may wonder why downtown Lexington? But MacDougall said it all makes sense.
"We spent many hours and many contributions from a lot of stakeholders within the town on where they wanted to see the town grow and what they wanted to see for the town," MacDougall said. "We took that vision plan very seriously, and it was a vision plan we bought into. And we didn't leave it on our shelf. We kept it on our desk and kept the pages open."
That vision has brought community members of Lexington multiple retail stores, updated parks, one large amphitheater and more.
And come 2024, they expect the numbers to just keep growing.
"We've had talks of a hotel on Main Street. It's finally coming into fruition," MacDougall said. "We've seen plans come into our office within the last couple weeks for that hotel. When the hotel goes in, everything else will follow."