ATHENS — Athens Main Street has announced that Executive Director Tere Richardson will retire from her position after eight and a half years of leadership with the downtown revitalization nonprofit organization.
Richardson joined Athens Main Street in 2018 and has spent the past eight and a half years leading the organization’s efforts to strengthen downtown Athens through economic development, historic preservation, placemaking and community programming.
Tere Richardson
During Richardson’s tenure, downtown Athens experienced significant public and private investment, welcomed new businesses, and saw the completion of several major projects that have helped shape the district.
Among the organization’s most visible accomplishments during Richardson’s leadership was the transformation of a previously underutilized alley off Jefferson Street into Merchants Alley, an inviting public space celebrating the area’s musical heritage through art, landscaping, and live music. The project was funded largely through support from the private sector, including sponsorships, donations, and grants.
Another major project was the transformation of the Athens Farmers Market and creation of Doug Gates Park, representing more than $800,000 in improvements. What began as an effort to renovate the aging farmers market pavilion grew into a comprehensive investment in the Five Points area, expanding vendor and gathering space, improving accessibility, and creating new opportunities for programming and community use. The project also included the addition of Doug Gates Park, named in honor of longtime Athens Main Street supporter and community leader Doug Gates for his contributions to downtown Athens. The improvements supported the growth of the Farmers Market itself, with Tuesday market days added alongside the traditional Saturday market, creating more opportunities for local farmers, makers, and vendors to sell their products while generating additional activity in the district.
Richardson was also a strong advocate for the City of Athens’ establishment of The Square Arts and Entertainment District, providing an additional economic development tool for downtown restaurants by allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages within the designated district. The initiative complemented downtown events and helped create a more vibrant environment for dining, entertainment, and nightlife around the Square.
Most recently, Richardson led the development of a new identity for the Five Points district, centered around the Farmers Market and surrounding businesses. The branding initiative is designed to establish Five Points as a recognizable destination within downtown Athens and encourage continued investment and activity in the area.
Richardson also championed significant growth in downtown events and programming. Fridays After Five grew into one of downtown Athens’ largest recurring events, drawing crowds of upwards of 5,000 people. Athens Main Street also added Merchants Alley Happy Hour as an effort to program the space by featuring live music from a variety of genres.
Additional events and promotions, including Summer Sippin’ and the Boutique Crawl, have been popular with local residents and regional shoppers. Together, the expanded event calendar provided additional opportunities for merchants, restaurants, and other downtown businesses to increase sales and connect with the community.
Those projects, events and initiatives accompanied significant economic growth throughout the downtown district. During Richardson’s tenure, downtown Athens recorded $31,955,291 in private investment, $2,086,294 in public investment, 26 net new businesses creating 143 jobs, and 11,777 volunteer hours.
“Serving Athens Main Street and our downtown community has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,” Richardson said. “When I stepped into this role eight and a half years ago, I believed deeply in the potential of downtown Athens and in what could happen if we brought the right people, partnerships, and resources together. I am incredibly proud of the organization we have built, the relationships we have created, and the projects we have turned from ideas into reality. None of that happens because of one person. It has taken dedicated volunteers, board members, business and property owners, community partners, and local leaders who believe in downtown. I leave knowing Athens Main Street is stronger than it was eight and a half years ago, and I am incredibly proud to have helped build that foundation for its future.”
Athens Main Street Board President Tommy Coblentz said Richardson’s leadership has helped position both the organization and the downtown district for continued success.
“Tere’s leadership and dedication over the past eight and a half years can be seen throughout downtown Athens,” Coblentz said. “The Athens Main Street organization and our downtown community have thrived during Tere’s tenure as Executive Director, and the successes achieved are a direct result of the tremendous work and energy that Tere has put forth. We are extremely grateful for her service to Athens Main Street and to our community.”
Coblentz said the board is committed to maintaining that momentum as the organization enters its next chapter.
“Our board is dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition and continuing the progress that has been made throughout the downtown district,” Coblentz said. “Since learning this news, we have been hard at work selecting Tere’s successor. We look forward to providing more information soon.”
Richardson said she believes the organization is well positioned for the future.
“Downtown is never finished. That is what makes Main Street work so rewarding. There will always be another building to restore, another business to support, another public space to improve and another opportunity to bring people to the district. I know Athens Main Street will continue that work, and I will always be proud of what we built together and grateful that I had the opportunity to help lead it.”
Media Release/Tere Richardson
Executive Director
Athens Main Street
