Village Commerce
Creating an Atmosphere for Successful Business

A Special thing about Simpler Times Village is the freedom for families to operate home occupations in a centralized location. Many families are interested in making their occupational dreams come true.

Supporting small businesses is a big part of our vision for Simpler Times Village. We feel like it’s very healthy for families to have home centered lives. Working from home is a great way to make home life a priority. It’s also a great way to teach children the family trade, and fulfill a multi-generational vision for family.

Working In The Village…

Our goal is to bring many people together who have home based businesses or a wish to open a community oriented shop or service. At Simpler Times Village professionals will have the freedom to work at home or just down the street. We will all enjoy an old fashion integration with our families and enjoy a strong local network of businesses in a village setting.

Many of the folks on our development team own and operate successful small businesses. We understand your unique needs for technology, community support and a quick walk to the local café. We also know that homes must be specially designed to include office space, a studio, a workshop, and/or a gallery. Most of all we believe in the positive impact that home based businesses make in families and communities.

We want to provide the setting and atmosphere where micro-business can thrive. We are creating a place where anyone can put up a nice wooden sign operate a small business from home. We plan to have several building sites zoned especially for cottage industry, shops and services, and plan to have storefronts for rent as well.

Freedom to own and operate a business from your home is at the heart of the American dream. But unfortunately current zoning practices prevent businesses from being a core part of neighborhoods. We know that people who work at home can sometimes feel alone in their suburban subdivisions.

How nice it could be to live and work in a place where several neighbors all take their lunch breaks together at the deli on the village green, or meet for coffee just a half block away. Folks can also do their banking, shopping, and visit the doctor without having to hop in the car and drive 20 minutes. This will save people valuable time and energy, and help them to become a part of a real community of local people. We will even get the exercise that we so desperately need, either by walking to the village center for a meeting, or by working out at the gym down the street. Not only is a real village perfect for home based businesses but for anyone pursuing a more localized, home centered life.

“I want to open a shop,
where is the best
place for my business?”

The Village Green: If you need and expect a lot of traffic, you should build in the village center.  You could have 700–5,000 sq ft of retail space on the first floor more  2000 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft or more for a residence, office space, apartments or hotel rooms on the second, third and fourth floors.  The Grand Opening of the Village Green will most likely be set for 2010 or 2011, with big festival when many shops will open at once!   
 
Anywhere: If your business is more like a hobby and maybe you don’t plan to be open five days a week, you can have your shop anywhere.  Just use the front room of your home (look at the plans for the Gingersnaps house) or build a detached studio/shop on your lot 
 
Neighborhood hubs: If you want to be open regularly but don’t need to be near the main hub of the village center, and still want room for a yard and garden, you may want to build your shop in the heart of one of the other neighborhoods.  Different areas have different themes that are expressed by the name of each neighborhood.  The theme should be evident in the décor and music used in the shop even if the items for sale or services don’t match the theme... Costumes are optional, but may be encouraged for a yearly festival.
 
Symphony Park: There will be many little storefronts and shops in Symphony Park.  Perhaps if you have a business that has something to do with music, theater, fine food, fine art, classic literature, weddings, or education you may want to locate in Symphony Park.   This is a prime location for retail shops because it is near a main entrance.  Symphony Park  and will be the first area to be established, this will be the main retail center  for the first couple years.  This will also be a perfect location for a small inn, a café and a deli.
 
Storyteller Woods has an area for shops around the commons.  Storyteller Woods is expected to be an area where artists, storytellers, writers, inventors and book lovers settle.  If you want to rent out a tiny vacation cabin on your property this would be the best location.

Sunday Drive is especially for those who love antiques, folk art, crafts, gift shops and old time trades and American history.  It’s going to have a small town 1890’s Main Street feeling.  This will be a great spot for B&B’s.