TOURISM

Destination Clarksville: Downtown Welcome Center

By Tony Centonze

Jody Isaacs and Steve Tyrrell of Journey's Eye Studio came to Clarksville about five years ago from just outside Boston, Massachusetts. Now, with the addition of a Welcome Center, and Destination Clarksville, a line of Clarksville-Montgomery County merchandise that includes t-shirts, hats, postcards and more, their eclectic studio in the heart of downtown has become a beacon for others who are new to the area, or just traveling through.

“After the kids went to college, we thought, we don't need the big house in Massachusetts anymore, Isaacs said. “So, we were thinking, what's next. We're both big on contributing our life energy into community, so we thought, let's see what's out there. We set out to find a city with a promising, up-andcoming downtown area.

“After an unsuccessful road trip, we were back home, Steve's brother called and said, did you ever check out Clarksville? Steve went online and made some connections. We flew down, had dinner at the Blackhorse, looked out the window and saw this building for sale. The rest is history.”

Journey's Eye Studio has evolved since its inception, but hasn't lost its roots. Isaacs has a background in retail, previously owning a store in Waltham, Massachusetts. She has also consulted with large corporate clients as an interior designer, specializing in mid-century modern furniture and collectibles. She worked with clients in New York, the Cape, and the islands. Tyrell does industrial art and sculpture. He is responsible for many of the creative design elements at Strawberry Alley Ale Works.

Isaacs soon recognized a missing piece of the puzzle, a hands-on approach to making visitors to our city feel welcome.

“I love Visit Clarksville,” Isaacs said. “They are fabulous over there. Their writing and photography are amazing, but they're not in a position to do the hands-on greeting of visitors to our city. They would be good at it, they're just not in the right position.”

Isaacs says, she and Steve just fell into this “ambassador” role. “When the big riverboats were docking here, I found myself looking after the people who were disembarking in Clarksville for the day. I was bringing them newspapers, welcoming them. I felt like they were walking around not knowing what was going on.”

“Even though they had a bus that brought them places, there was basically no hand-holding. When you see a need, fill it. I've lived my whole life with that philosophy, so doing this was never a huge jump for me. If you see something that needs to be done, just do it. It's like, if you see a piece of trash, pick it up.”

Isaacs went to Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts and Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett and asked for permission to designate an area of her store the Downtown Welcome Center. “They each gave me an enthusiastic 'yes'. We now have Destination Clarksville - Your Downtown Welcome Center online at Facebook and Instagram.” Isaacs had already taken it upon herself to provide assistance to Clarksville's growing visitor traffic. Then, she took the next logical step.

“This past year, we sort of dove into the product line aspect of it,” Isaacs said. “We thought, that's another area that is lacking. People coming to visit were asking for postcards, and other souvenir items. There are some places in town that offer things along those lines, but nothing downtown was really looking after that market. So, I developed Destination Clarksville, and created that as its own entity. People have been so grateful, and it's not just visitors, it's locals as well. People are so happy to represent. We also bring in other local designers, and actually wholesale with a variety of partners.”

“We want to support all types of small business,” Isaacs said. “We have jackets, t-shirts, hats, key chains, stickers, postcards and more.” She picked up a box set of postcards that were created by Lucas Chambers. “I bought the Polaroid film, and sent him out to do quirky and unusual iconic photos of Clarksville. It's just another way of looking at our city.”

Now, Clarksville visitors have a source for souvenirs, but they can also find a friendly face and a warm welcome.

“If somebody is coming through, and they don't know much about downtown, and they have a limited amount of time, we'll try to find out what their interests are,” Isaacs said. “We'll go in the back room and pull out some brochures and maps, and see if they have time to go to

“We want to make sure they get to the Customs House Museum. If they are here in the evening, we will (prepandemic) direct them to a show at The Roxy, or some local music venue. We'll bring up all the q-readers and give them a chance to really find out what's happening in our city.”

There is a little room at the back of the store now. On one wall there is a world map, with pins marking states and countries from which our visitors have come. There is a coffee machine, and a lounge area to make folks comfortable.

“People will camp out back there,” Isaacs said. “Sometimes, if they are locating to the area, they'll bring in their realtors, and have a chat. We connect people. If they're moving in, we help them find information about the area they are considering. Mostly, it's about making sure they have a fun time while they're here. We just want them to feel like they have been seen, and greeted, and assisted. If I can't help them, I send them to the right place.”

“Some of the folks who come through, are practically in tears. They are so thrilled, and they can't believe it. I don't think they encounter this everywhere, getting a genuine handson greeting. I don't see this as a job, it comes naturally, and it's necessary. If we're going to welcome people into town, it has to be for them, not for their money. Their person is what's contributing to this community, and we're glad to have them.”

Isaacs and Tyrrell have synergized the old business adage, “find a need and fill it”, not only to improve their business, but the city's tourism business as well. Their vision has expanded, as their upcoming endeavors will show. “We're doing a t-shirt every quarter, from which, all the proceeds go to the local historical society,” Isaacs said. “Next year, we've already arranged to feature the Arts and Heritage Council, the Customs House Museum, and The Roxy Regional Theatre. Also, every quarter, there will be a limited-edition print that will become collectible. We want to chronicle all the historic parts of Clarksville.”

“Visitors and newcomers are finding downtown, though not as easily as I would wish. They're not really being directed to our downtown area, on a consistent basis. We want to make sure that we are all working together to ensure that we cover our whole city. It's important that people understand how large Clarksville-Montgomery

County is, and how many different areas of interest there are.”

Journey’s Eye Studio still has its art and creative pieces, and home décor. But, in the store now, there is a full line of Destination Clarksville merchandise.

“By diversifying our product lines we've created a nice mix of customers,” Isaacs said. “I would say 2/3 come here to shop for home décor, and 1/3 come for the Destination Clarksville merchandise. We get people who come here specifically for the Downtown Welcome Center, too. There will be a sign going up soon. I guess we've taken on a lot.” Isaacs admits that running a business in downtown Clarksville these past five years hasn't been all sailboats and sunshine. But she is always finding a new way forward, for herself, her business, and now, our city. She even found a silver lining to this year's pandemic.

“COVID-19 has helped in the sense that it has forced us all to focus,” Isaacs said. “We're no longer just riding the ups and downs. I like the fact that we have moments in time, as we're going through life, that help us realize it's time to refocus. We think we are, and then a moment like COVID-19 happens, and you realize, 'I haven't been very focused'. Times like these help us to really hone in on what is actually necessary. A chance to let some of the fluff go, and focus first and foremost on the people. That's the most important thing. Who is being looked after?”

She recognized that the pandemic creates even more need for people to be welcomed warmly to our city. “We have lots of people moving here now, are they being seen? Do they have a place to come and have a cup of coffee?” Isaacs said. “These people need a welcome. We need to make sure someone is helping them. I say to new residents, hey, don't play the guessing game. Let me help you out with contractors, plumbers, that kind of thing.”

“That's the #1 thing, to make sure that we're all successful, whether that involves the changes in your family life, or in your business. We all want to be cohesive in that.”

Isaacs says she misses the riverboats during this time of COVID-19, but there are still 'tons' of people coming into our city for a variety of reasons. “People are coming through to drop their kids off at school, to see their

military sons and daughters before they deploy, or to welcome them back when they come home. Right now, there are a lot of grand-babies happening. So, we have lots of parents moving closer to their kids, and that is the sweetest thing.”

Isaacs says, now is also the perfect time to be retiring. “If you have a dream to own your own business, this market is fertile, and you have a big support system here to help make it happen. I love that the Multi-Purpose Event Center is coming in. There are some very successful people really investing in this community, and I definitely want to be part of Clarksville's continued growth.

“I want us to synergize our efforts. We need to know we're here for each other, and that we can all be successful. If we're successful in our endeavors, this city will be successful. We can share information with each other, especially when it comes to all our new folks coming in. They should feel like they want to plant roots here, and in so doing, that they can be part of something great, with all of us.”