Saturday afternoon

Was in town around 1:00pm this afternoon. Saw some people on the sidewalk looking in windows but all the stores were closed. I asked if they were looking for something in particular and they replied they were from Raleigh and usually just went to the pottery, but they had seen the news Thursday and thought they would stop in town. But they said, nothing is open and there's nothing here. I suggested they go to Sam and Kate's Gift store because she was open. They just said "no thanks" their car was right there and they would just go on.
This is what I mean about poor planning, a good idea at the incredibly wrong time. If this whole promotion had waited until we had merchants agreeing to stay open until a certain time on Saturday, and a place for visitors to get a drink of water even once they are here, some decorations, an event, anything. But instead these people came to Smithfield, saw the same old nothing and went home annoyed to have wasted the gas.
What was the point of having the reporter come to Smithfield? What was jdc promoting, or marketing or advertising in the town of Smithfield. What did get advertised was that the town hasn't changed, there is nothing open and nothing to do once you get here.

We were on the news last Thursday, June 5th. "we aren't just rednecks and moonshiners and dogfights" in Smithfield. We need a professional marketing person!!!!! Please!!!!

Friday evening

Went to Raleigh to Moore Square, the acorn park as my kids call it. Full of music, people walking, different nationalities and color. When we first moved to Smithfield we would go to Raleigh in search of food, fun and diversity but it wasn't there. Now 20 years later its alive with all we were looking for. I hope someday that the feeling of life and creativity will find its way to the streets of this old town Smithfield.

HI,

I am a business owner in Downtown Smithfield, NC. Myself and several other businesses are trying to get a neglected but awesome small town out of its presently unkempt rather sad appearance. Close to Raleigh NC, within 2o minutes due to a new bypass, this place should be alive with merchants, restaurants, music and art. Smithfield NC is on the Interstate 95 corridor, intersected by Highway 70 and Highway 301. It was, up until 25 years ago, a vibrant town with an ice-cream shop, hardware stores, clothing store, pharmacy and many other privately owned businesses. We even had a small Belks department store. Walmart moved in, the smaller Carolina Pottery became Factory Stores of America and this charming downtown came to a screeching halt.