Today, March 1, community members, local leaders and business owners all gathered together for the official ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of Bladenboro’s new town square. 

This project is the result of years of hard work and was made possible through many partnerships including the Town of Bladenboro, County of Bladen, Boost the Boro, Bladen’s Bloomin’ and many others. 

“This all started with Boost the Boro… I remember when the first article in Bladen Online came out that there was a group of people, [a] grassroots effort, that was going to revitalize Bladenboro. We thought, well, that'll last a couple years. Six, seven, eight years later, that group was still working, putting out benches and doing facade improvements. And I think that's what gave us the desire to come in and do something that they didn’t quite have the capacity to do. But I can tell you that in my mind and in our office, this entire project started with the fortitude and persistence of the Boost the Boro organization,” shared Chuck Heustess with the Bladen County Economic Development Commission.

Heustess recalled that putting together enough property downtown for a development like this, especially after the damage done by hurricanes Matthew and Florence, seemed like an impossible task, but with the support of Bladen County Commissioners and trusting in God’s timing, the project came to fruition.

The new town square is home to locally owned businesses such as Things I Love Gifts and More, Lash & Mane Salon, Market on Main, Over Yonder Coffee, Teas, and Creamery, Sweet Tea Boutique and more. 

“One thing that I've learned is that Bladenboro may be small, but it is mighty. This town square project is an example of a town that wants to survive,” remarked Town Administrator Shanelle Harris.

The opening of the new town square is just the beginning of what’s in store for the revitalization of Bladenboro.