Main Street Preservation Trust

"The gift that keeps on giving."

The Main Street Preservation Trust (MSPT) may have officially launched in February 2005, but the vision that MSPT brought to Main Street started long before.

It started with a dream. A gift.

Setting the Scene

In the early 2000s, Main Street in Gloucester faced significant challenges. Once a bustling hub of activity, the shopping center situated at its southern end had deteriorated over the years, leaving a few struggling small businesses and restaurants, operating alongside a closed department store and a shuttered grocery store. This situation rendered the shopping center an unproductive asset, requiring substantial maintenance and becoming an eyesore. Likewise, the traditional Main Street itself, with its county government offices, a few restaurants, and a handful of retailers, started to feel the pressure and competition from regional and national chain stores, leading to an increase in vacancies. 

The Gift

During this time, large “big box” stores announced plans to expand and establish their presence near Main Street in Gloucester, located just minutes away. 

Witnessing these developments, the late Edwin Joseph and his wife, Adrianne Ryder-Cook Joseph, grew increasingly concerned. Mrs. Joseph remarked, "Why would people come to Main Street to shop at the different local stores when they could go to the largest Wal-Mart on the East Coast to get everything they need?” The Josephs’ goal was to support the businesses on Main Street to not only survive but thrive despite the competition of the big box stores

In light of these circumstances, the Josephs turned their attention to the ailing shopping center. While others saw a dilapidated structure, the Josephs recognized an opportunity. In 2003, they purchased the shopping center, now known as Main Street Center, and embarked on its revitalization, creating suitable space for a new public library and the US Post Office.

They developed a model for the revitalization and support of Main Street, which has been recognized as one of the most unique in the country. The Main Street Shopping Center became a means to generate income dedicated to enhancing and improving Gloucester Main Street for the long term. Through their efforts, the Josephs transformed the Main Street Shopping Center into a revenue-generating entity, with the proceeds earmarked to enhance and improve Gloucester Main Street for years to come. They are the only accredited Main Street in the nation to have this self-sustaining asset to drive and fund programming. 

The mechanism behind this approach is inherently ingenious. Breck Ingles, a Gloucester native, Main Street businessman, and former Chairman of the Trust during pivotal growth periods, aptly described it as "the gift that keeps on giving." The income generated through rent from the shopping center is funneled into a trust—the Main Street Preservation Trust, officially established in 2005. Subsequently, the Main Street Preservation Trust channels all profits from the Main Street Center to exclusively benefit Gloucester’s Main Street district. This includes initiatives aimed at attracting new businesses to Main Street, enhancing the economic and business environment, with funding directed towards supporting the Gloucester Main Street Association and the Gloucester Revolving Loan Fund, preserving historical landmarks in the Courthouse area, and promoting civic and cultural activities. 

Moreover, a vibrant Main Street holds broader implications for the entire community. Main Street serves as a reflection of the community and plays a significant role in attracting potential residents. "A thriving Main Street benefits everybody, all 40,000 people who live in Gloucester County,” Adrianne Joseph continued. Think about it, if you are not from Gloucester and you drove down Main Street thinking about a place you might want to move to, you would look at Main Street to assess its suitability.  

Main Street Today

Among its various initiatives, the Main Street Preservation Trust places considerable emphasis on facade grants. The facade grants have had a significant and visible impact on the beautification of Main Street. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure the vitality of the businesses behind the attractive facades. Therefore, the Trust allocates substantial resources to support business operations, marketing, and positioning consultancy for Main Street enterprises. Since its inception, it has invested close to $5 million in our Main Street district, and the results are impressive to all who have seen the transformation over the years. As a result, Main Street can now take pride in its revitalized appearance, where the downtown boasts storefronts and streetscape improvements providing a picturesque setting for boutique shops, restaurants, and services on our Main Street. 

Founded over two centuries ago, our downtown is once again the hub and center of Gloucester. It beckons you to discover the perfect mix of yesterday’s nostalgia and today’s vibrancy…and let yourself be charmed by the historic beauty and delightful shops and restaurants on offer when you come to explore our Main Street.

The Main Street Preservation Trust (MSPT) administers Main Street Center and other Trust assets for the benefit of the community of Gloucester, Virginia. Funds generated by the Trust’s assets are intended to be used to attract new and additional business to Main Street in Gloucester by enhancing the economic and business environment, preserving historical landmarks in the Gloucester Court House Village area, and promoting civic and cultural activities. The Main Street Preservation Trust works with the Cook Foundation and is a supporter of the Gloucester Main Street Association. The Main Street Preservation Trust is a 501c4 organization, and as such donations are not tax deductible.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Main Street Preservation Trust Board of Trustees for 2022 are:

• Chair and Founder Dr. Adrianne Ryder Cook Joseph

• Vice-Chair Kim Hensley, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney – York County and Poquoson

• Secretary Dr. David Brown, Co-Director of Fairfield Foundation

• Treasurer David Hudson, Senior Financial Advisor

• Christina Cahill, Associate at Polsinelli

• Jenny Crittenden, Senior Vice President – Retail Alliance, and former Executive Director of MSPT

• Debra Goodier, Ware River Consulting

• Cindy Jenkins, Community Relations, Riverside Health Systems

• Dave S. Keel, Dean of Student Development, Rappahannock Community College

• The Honorable Aubrey Layne, former Secretary of Finance and Secretary of Transportation, Commonwealth of Virginia

• John Milner, Vice President GeForce Worldwide Sales at NVIDIA

• Eugene Thompson, Founder of Ionic DeZign Studios

• David Roddy, Appointed Trustee – Gloucester County Library

  Ashley Gilmartin Weast serves as the Trust’s Executive Director. You can email her at director@mspt.org