Redevelopment Awards

Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 | 6 a.m.

Economic Impact Award: Dave Starr, Farmers Market

Public markets can become the heart and soul of a community. They provide a place for people to interact and spark social and economic activity by creating interest and buzz.

Besides creating energy on the street, they also have economic impacts. Public and farmers markets can generate direct benefits, such as direct profits, job creation and sales tax, but they also create indirect benefits such as stimulating cross-shopping and development in downtowns, and enhancing place-making.

Studies about public and farmers markets show that market shoppers also visit nearby stores on the same day. That means every Thursday the Water Street District Farmers Market, in addition to sustaining its own successful business, is helping surrounding downtown businesses get noticed.

The Farmers Market in the Water Street District has created this energy and buzz on the street and residents, other businesses and employees in the area have made a stop at the Farmers Market a ritual. The Farmers Market debuted in April 1999, and its commitment and ever-increasing variety of specialty items keeps bringing people back again and again.

At the Farmers Market in the Water Street District, visitors will find row after row of market-fresh vegetables, handmade crafts, bakery-fresh breads and garden-fresh salsas.

Dave Starr has put his heart and soul into managing the market for the past four years, ensuring it provides quality vendors and a wide variety of choices for its customers every week throughout the year.

Economic Impact Award: Rance and Pat Spurlock, Spurlock’s Gun Shop

Spurlock’s Gun Shop has been serving Henderson residents and beyond for more than 11 years. The store’s owners, Rance and Pat Spurlock, are long-time residents of Henderson. In fact, Rance has lived in the area for more than five decades.

The shop specializes in firearms and accessories and caters to a clientele of hunters, sportsmen and recreational shooters. The store also offers handguns for target practice or self-protection, and holds a weekly Concealed Carry Weapons permit class taught by a National Rifle Association, Nevada and Utah certified instructor.

The economic impact of the sporting firearms and ammunitions industry is significant in the United States and Spurlock’s Gun Shop has benefited from this impact in downtown Henderson’s Water Street District. Hunters and recreational shooters spend billions nationally on firearms, ammunition, clothing, reloading equipment, optics and accessories. Spurlock’s commitment to excellent service has enabled them to tap into this market and has developed a trusted brand in the Water Street District.

Besides Spurlock’s successful business model, they have also partnered with neighboring businesses to support the overall business climate in the Water Street District by offering promotions to shared customers.

The shop has always been located in the Water Street District, and took advantage of the Façade Improvement Program and the Sign Program offered by the Redevelopment Agency of the city of Henderson, demonstrating their commitment to the physical and economic revitalization of the business district when they transitioned from tenant to property owner in December 2008.

Outstanding Partner Award: Chef Flemming’s Bake Shop

Chef Flemming’s Bake Shop is the Water Street District’s first authentic bake shop, where the crisp bread and tasty pastries are made from scratch every day. Chef Flemming and wife Cheré rely on old-fashioned baking with fresh ingredients and special attention to detail, all while catering to the wishes and desires of customers.

The quaint European style bakery is like a dream come true for Denmark-born Chef Flemming Pedersen, who began his culinary career as a baker apprentice. He graduated from the Danish Baking Laug and immigrated to the United States in 1976 to follow a successful career as a premier chef at 10 of Las Vegas’ famed hotels and casinos, including the Flamingo and Caesars Palace, and as an instructor at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Las Vegas.

While he served as executive pastry chef at the Tropicana Hotel, Flemming developed exquisite showpiece desserts created from sugar and chocolate and innovative recipes that he has brought with him to Water Street. The near four-decade veteran of the baking and pastry industry has tailored the best of his culinary talents to service the downtown Henderson community.

Over the past year, Chef Flemming’s has emerged as the leader in community events among businesses in the Water Street District. Participating as a sponsor, organizer and attendee, there hasn’t been an event in downtown Henderson that didn’t benefit from Chef Flemming’s participation and generosity. From 5K runs, to preparing care packages for deployed local soldiers, Chef Flemming’s stands out as an outstanding community partner for its commitment to the community and the greater good.