Downtown Poplar Bluff would see the addition of two more businesses under plans from the owners of Forum Fifty Fifty.
The Poplar Bluff City Council is expected to vote in September for a permit to sell liquor by the drink at 413 Vine St., which would house a skate shop and indoor skate park on its main level and a concert venue on its second floor.
The information was presented Monday by city planner James Sisk.
“In the upstairs, they’re wanting to do a small concert venue. They would like to do alcohol by the drink...,” Sisk said. “The skate shop downstairs … is already a functioning business in another location.”
It will be two businesses functioning separately that will not be intermingling, Sisk explained after questions by council member Barbara Horton.
A business plan was submitted on the matter by owners Evan Holley and Shawn Adams, along with a letter of support from the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce.
Under the submitted business plan, the location would be open by the fall of this year.
“We agree with the points made in their applications that the benefits, such as adding more entertainment downtown, creating additional tax revenue and jobs, etc. far outweigh any potential risks,” said Steve Halter, chamber president, and Lucas Edington, a past chairman, in the Chamber letter.
Poplar Bluff is growing, with more growth anticipated with the completion of future Interstate 57, according to plans submitted by Forum Fifty Fifty.
“There is a need for nightlife and entertainment and currently no dedicated live music venue nor indoor skate park,” the owners said.
The business hopes to offer live shows each month focused on local music and one to two shows per month with national artists, in addition to comedy and other entertainment.
Holley and Adams also noted Poplar Bluff’s skating community has grown since the outdoor park opened downtown.
“While the skate park is a tremendous resource for the community, it is not without some drawbacks,” they said. “The outdoor park is vulnerable to the same problems as any other outdoor activity: cold, hot, dark, rain, snow, etc.”
In addition to the indoor skate park, they plan to relocate an existing skate shop that opened in 2020.
The Vine Street building has the advantage of being within a historic district and offering tax incentives for purchase and renovation, their business plan notes. They also cite downtown’s new open cup rules as a benefit.
“Several businesses have opened within the area and others are in the process of following suit, leading to a bright future for the Poplar Bluff downtown area,” according to Holley and Adams.
In other business, the council also:
• Discussed a conditional-use permit for a daycare center at 331 N. Main St., to be operated by Celina McCain of Poplar Bluff. The number of children served would be based on the licensing guidelines by the state, Sisk said.
• Approved a zoning recommendation of C-2 general commercial for 1608-1630 S. 11th St.
• Set the property tax rate for 2021 at $0.6136 per $100 of assessed valuation.
• Appointed members to the board of directors for the Poplar Bluff Regional Transportation District.
• Approved an agreement to secure funding for a Roxie Road grant project.