 The crosswalk mural located in front of City Hall is known as Paris Crossing. It is a multi-directional mural showcasing the area's natural beauty and history. Regardless of how you cross the intersection of Express and Main Streets, you will get a straight view of at least one portion of the mural.  Father and son team Webster and Caleb Crocker designed Paris Crossing incorporate the natural flora and fauna of Paris, Arkansas. In the center, they shed light to the past with Train 2522 that once ran through the City.  Webster and Caleb are pictured above along with their painting assistants.  A dedication ceremony was held on the square to celebrate Paris Crossing in January 2024.  Paris Crossing was made possible in part by a grant from the Division of Arkansas Heritage, funded by your 1/8 cent conservation tax, Amendment 75. Main Street Paris provided 1:1 matching funds for the grant.  Pictured from left to right: Marty Ryall, Director of the Division of Arkansas Heritage; Daniel Rogers, Mayor of the City of Paris; Heather Mayes, Executive Director of Main Street Paris; Danielle Barham, 2024 Board President of Main Street Paris; Debra Fithen, Grants Manager at the Division of Arkansas Heritage.
 As tourists traveling through Paris and western Arkansas, it is easy to be captivated by the beautiful scenery and wonderfully engaging people who live here. What they might not know is that the area is the setting for Charles Portis’ bestselling historical fiction, True Grit. It is the story of a young girl, Mattie Ross of near Dardanelle, in Yell County, a 14-year-old who could be described as the first feminist as she works to avenge her father’s shooting death in Fort Smith.
Perhaps you have seen the signs by the Arkansas DOT on highway 22, and interstates 40 and 540 designating the True Grit Trail. In the spirit of Mattie Ross, the True Grit Trail posse was created as an all-volunteer organization working to utilize True Grit to promote tourism in the river valley. The posse works through chambers of commerce, main street programs, business associations, and local businesses utilizing the reputation of the book, movies, and the recently created logo of the True Grit Trail to invite people to explore the seven counties in Arkansas and five counties in Oklahoma which compose the trail which is where the story occurs. While tourists from other areas come to see the True Grit Trail, the population of the area of True Grit Trail is 492,000! In southwest Colorado where the 1969 version of True Grit with John Wayne was filmed, tourism for True Grit is one of the top three draws to the area. After 50 years, True Grit is still a draw. Being part of the True Grit Trail is easy. Businesses can participate by utilizing the True Grit Trail logo and selling products or services themed with True Grit. The cost is nothing; there are no royalty rights for the usage of the logo or name. Consider Castle Graphics and True Grit Grounds Coffee and Tea in downtown Paris. Castle Graphics sells a variety of True Grit Trail merchandise, and at True Grit Grounds you can enjoy a cup of Rooster’s Roast coffee as well as other True Grit Trail themed foods. The goal of True Grit Trail is to bring tourists and dollars to communities and businesses. For more information, visit truegrittrail.com. Lock your love on the Love Lock Fence located in Eiffel Tower Park! Thousands of couples have traveled from near and far to make the romantic gesture and forever seal their love in Paris, Arkansas.  This is a wonderful special to do on wedding days, anniversaries, engagements, vow renewals or any other day of the year. It's always a great day to show love! To add your own lock, purchase one from a downtown merchant. Little Shoppes on the Square, True Grit Grounds: Coffee & Tea, and 22 Brew are a few who carry them. Next, write or engrave your names, initials, and/or location on the lock.  Choose a place on the Love Lock Fence to secure your lock. Then turn around and throw the lock's key in the fountain at the base of our Eiffel Tower. Now your love is forever sealed in Paris, AR!
You never know what you'll find at Anissa's Variety Store! It has something for every member of the family at affordable prices. Grab a coffee and add it to your shopping route in downtown Paris, AR.  From clothing to household items, toys, baby gear and everything in between, there is a great deal to look through. You'll probably come across the owner's cute kids in the family-owned and operated business too.  Anissa's Variety Store offers trendy items and everyday essentials for people of all ages. The owner takes pride in sourcing the best deals and passing them on to people who need them most.  After shopping, spin the wheel for a chance to win coupons and prizes. Check back often because items listed on the wheel are subject to change. You could win BIG!  Find Anissa's Variety Store at:
201 W Walnut St Paris, AR 72855 (501) 206-1245 Anissa's Variety Store on Facebook 22 Brew has something for every taste bud! It is a great place to go for that perfect cup of coffee with locally roasted beans from right next door. It also serves premium hand-dipped ice cream. Combine the two for a taste bud explosion!  The owners decided to start 22 Brew to offer a unique experience and product to their hometown community. They offer high quality, local products and stay open late, keeping the square "alive after 5!"  Depending on the customer, you might hear them rave about our tasty lattes, made from scratch muffins or a big scoop of our hand-dipped ice cream! There are many popular products!  The goal is to provide a little something for every taste bud! In addition to the top notch quality coffee drinks, 22 Brew also serves lunch options, including salads and pita pocket sandwiches.  Owner, Tonya Varnell, has been a Chamber Ambassador for several years, participating and volunteering to help with community events. She has also headed up the Keep Paris Beautiful initiative for 10 years, helping to get the community garden launched, murals painted and pocket parks built. Her husband, Ty Varnell, has been a teacher at Paris School District for 15 years, helping with events in the community, painting several murals in town and designing the art for the Battle of Haguewood signage near the fairgrounds.  The family owned and operated coffee and ice cream shop features a drive through for easy access and regularly hosts game nights and live entertainment.  When asked about running a business in the Paris Main Street District, Tonya said "The more the merrier!" She stated the support businesses receive through Main Street Paris is priceless.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, Arkansas was a gift to the city in 2014. It stands proudly on the southwest corner of the historic courthouse square, along with picnic tables, an information kiosk, public stage and Love Lock Fence.  Eiffel Tower HeightA seven-foot, two-tiered water feature with fountain was added to the 18-foot tower to become at 25-foot tall Eiffel Tower. The fountain features color changing lights and makes the perfect backdrop for photos in any season.  Paint ColorOur Eiffel Tower is painted with the same paint brand and color that is used on the Eiffel Tower in France. It includes three different shades of brown paint that was donated by the manufacturer from France.  Community EventsEiffel Tower Park serves as a gathering space for public events throughout the year. Groups sing Christmas carols on the stage during Merry on Main, it serves as a backdrop for photos with the Easter Bunny and monthly concerts take place there during summer months.
You can stop by any day, at any time, to view the Eiffel Tower, take photos and experience the downtown park. True Grit Grounds is a family owned and operated specialty coffee & tea house that serves hot and cold espresso based drinks, fresh ground and brewed coffee, specialty teas, iced/blended fraps, light breakfast fare and goodies. It also serves light sandwich and soup lunch combos and has complimentary hi-speed WiFi for guests. They are open Tuesday - Friday from 7am to 2pm and Saturdays from 8am - 2pm. Drive up service and online ordering make it easier to grab that favorite drink on the go!  When the Bambrick family relocated to Paris in early 2021, they noticed there wasn’t a ‘gathering’ space for the community. The city did not have a specialty coffeehouse in town, so they began many conversations with the city, chamber and residents about what it would look like and what is needed for a coffeehouse. A chance meeting with the True Grit Trail Posse at a Chamber-hosted ‘Coffee and Donuts’ sparked the name for the shop, and after that a lengthy comprehensive business plan was written which included the design and desire for True Grit Grounds. The goal was and is to provide a safe gathering space for the community to feel comfortable and enjoy a specialty coffee or tea, read a book, play a game, conduct business meetings or just hang out and enjoy conversations with friends  The business is here to serve. They would love it if more people knew that their hearts desire is to see the city and its residents served by this family run business. While their most popular products are the frap and latte specialty coffee, True Grit's most popular service is having a gathering place that is comfortable and welcoming to the public. They enjoy serving small groups and offer a mid-week bible study on Thursday nights at 7:00pm known as 'Coffeehouse Church'.  As often as possible, the family is involved with city events, chamber events and Main Street events hosted on the Paris square. They give to most of the community organizations, and make every effort to prioritize their time to be there and support as much as possible.  They have wonderful advice to offer for anyone considering starting a business in the Paris Main Street district. The first thing is to talk with the Chamber and Main Street to determine if the business you are starting is something that is needed by the city. Then, get a detailed business plan together. If it is at all possible, keep your supply chain, employees, contractors and services local so your business benefits the city and residents of Paris.  Get involved with everything going on. Main Street Paris and the Chamber plan great events throughout the year and need businesses to support them.  You can find True Grit Grounds at:
12 East Walnut Street Paris, AR 72855 (479)213-7773 [email protected] Varnell Media has its hands in all forms of media. From podcasts to photos, videos and audio, they have done it all. Most people know them from their beginnings in sports media, and they still do that, covering the Arkansas Razorbacks for numerous outlets. Their work has been featured on NBC, ESPN, Azteca, Telemundo and many others!  The work began as a side job in media relations for a large school district's athletic programs. Jamie Varnell has always loved sports media and found it captivating. He has since been on a rollercoaster ride of opportunities!  Right now, their most popular service is the DJ service. They have Big Vinyl, which travels all around the region to play old school vinyl on a modern sounds system. They also offer full DJ services with lights and sound for weddings and events. Guitar and drum lessons are also staying very busy, and of course, the PARIS963 podcast.  One thing they wish more people knew about their business is they have a rental venue. The old radio station can be rented for your next event, with options to include linens, sound, catering and more. They can also convert your old VHS or camcorder videos to digital format to preserve them.  Paris is home for Varnell. From Frontier Day to Christmas to the podcast featuring area Chamber members, he does all he can to promote the community. It is common for members outside the region to ask how things are in Paris. When asked what he would say to someone thinking about starting a business in the Main Street district, Varnell said: It is the best opportunity in town. Even though I am at the end of the block, the amount of foot traffic I get on event days is tremendous. Also, the relationships between all of the businesses make it a special place to work. Cravens Abstract & Title Company is a location of Proland Title Co. They are the folks that help bring everything together when you're buying or selling a home. The team strives to make the process easy, smooth and convenient for both clients and industry partners.  In Paris, the office is a full service title company. They also have offices across the state, meaning they can close properties anywhere in Arkansas! When asked what they would say to someone thinking about starting a business in the Main Street district, they said: Paris is a community full of great people, scenic views and growing business. Main Street is the perfect place to put a business! The Paris Area Chamber is the connection maker for the community that focuses on community development, engagement, networking, and building a stronger future for our region. It started in 1945 as a way to grow the community.  Festivals are the most popular thing they do that bring the community together. Frontier Day festival and Spring Time in Paris are the two biggest events, but the newest event is Music on the Square which brings food, craft beer, and music together in downtown Paris. 2022 Board Members:  The Chamber has a fantastic volunteer base comprised of stay-at-home moms, business owners, community leaders, retired individuals, and more that keep our entire community moving forward. They are always looking for more individuals that love this area and want to help it grow.  You name it, and the Chamber wants to be involved. If you have a need, they want to know to help find resources to make your project succeed.  When asked what the Chamber would say to someone thinking about starting a business in the Main Street district: DO IT! The Main Street district is the heart of Paris and is THE place to start a business. With opportunities for design help, façade grants, events, walkability, and the picturesque downtown you are going to love being part of Main Street Paris! Siebenmorgen and Associates is a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, LLC. It is a financial planning practice that focuses on wholistic planning: retirement planning, debt management, tax planning, estate planning, protection, etc.  The practice was started over 30 years ago to support the community and provide in-depth financial planning services. Something they wish people knew about the business is that they are not investment advisors. They deal with so much more than trading stocks.  Siebenmorgen and Associates enjoys hosting local seminars and sponsors community activities when possible. When asked what they would say to someone thinking about starting a business in the Main Street district, they responded with an enthusiastic "Do it!" Main Street Paris is such an amazing community. There is tremendous support for any needs that might arise.  Reach out to Siebenmorgen and Associates for all your financial planning needs.
23 East Main Street Paris, AR 72855 (479)478-1002 |
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