New Haven, MO. area (St. Louis, Columbia: real estate, hotel, new home)

[Windsor chair maker]

Can anyone tell me a bit about the New Haven, MO. area? Is it artisian friendly such as helping promote artisans living there now? How is the housing and are there any buildings available for opening a business? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in advance.

[KCWKEN]

New Haven has a small gentrified downtown area with a few "antique" shops and a restaurant or two down by the riverfront. Not much more than that. Other than that, it's a nice area of river bluffs, rolling hills, lots of wooded hills and some farm land.

If you're looking for a town in that general area to set up a small artisan shop (building chairs I assume?) The better bet for you would be Hermann, MO about 15 minutes farther west on Highway 100. Herman has several well known wineries and a thriving tourist industry especially in spring and fall with Mai Fest and Oktoberfest. There are several bed & breakfasts in Hermann and a lot of antique and craft shops. Hermann draws weekend tourists from St. Louis, Jefferson City and Columbia who enjoy the lovely wooded hills, river bluffs, wineries, etc. which is exactly the type of demographic that would enjoy perusing hand crafted furniture and visiting with an artisan/craftsman and buying the finished products.

Land and homes in the area around Hermann (including New Haven) are fairly inexpensive. You could probably find a storefront location in Herman, if not on the main tourist strip, then possibly along Hwy 100.

New Haven just wont supply the foot traffic you're looking for if you're trying to make a living from your craft.

Ken

[mgottemo]

New Haven is an old river town, lots of original buildings restored downtown, including an operating art deco movie theatre built in the 20's. With the trains rumbling through the downtown which sits at the bottom of a bluff, and houses spread out on the overlooking hills, the city hall and the post office are still downtown. There is one new art gallery that opened this spring downtown, and another art glass business opening soon. The local art teacher has a fashion design studio that is open some weekends and summers. There is a beautifully restored hotel downtown and a few bed and breakfasts. A non-profit art and music center is open most weekends downtown by the levee. Across the Missouri River on the north there are fields that provide a pastoral view.
Then there is the uptown along Highway 100 with newer business buildings uptown, two groceries, a pharmacy, a hardware store, 3 banks, a couple of restaurants, park, schools, etc. On the east city limits there is a vineyard and winery, and two more within 5-7 miles. There are more bed and breakfasts in rural New Haven. There are a several new home building subdivisions. The real estate prices are very reasonable. The locals are very friendly to artists, but the charm of downtown, which is still being renovated, is hoped to attract more tourists and more artists. I hope you check it out.

[ShadowCaver]

mgottemo - very nicely said, you paint a nice picture of New Haven, which is indeed a good place. Thanks for your contribution.