Downtown

Downtown Map

Manchester's downtown is the classic American Main Street.  Built mostly between 1880 and 1920, this was Manchester's central business district.  It provided hotel rooms, retail sales, clothing, food, restaurants, personal services, banking, and professional services to a robust industrial village.  Its Victorian era commercial architecture expressed the prosperity of the community and has always been a source of pride. 

Because of its superior central location, excellent access from state routes or interstate highways, mixed use zoning and adaptable buildings, Manchester's Main Street has remained remarkably versatile and resilient.  The buildings have stood for over 100 years and the street is now listed on the National Register of Historic places.  Manchester's gateways are its intersection with Route 6 and 44 where the town's government buildings are located, and exit 3 off of Interstate 384 providing superior access to Routes 84 and 291. 

In 1991 Manchester's town government sponsored a revitalization study, and involved the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and downtown property owners and businesses.  This revitalization plan set out a strategic direction which has been followed ever since.

Importantly, the Town Board of Directors, working in cooperation with downtown property owners, formed a Special Services District (SSD) in 1991.  This business improvement district is staffed by a full time manager and is dedicated to managing the affairs and programs for downtown.  This includes marketing and promotions, business recruiting, parking lot management, streetscape beautification, and events management.  The downtown SSD Manager is an integral part of the town's economic development team in dealing with this historic district.  Please visit the SSD website for more specific information on the downtown.

Main Street itself has been totally reconstructed, with new underground utilities installed, new roadway surface and sidewalks, and decorative street lighting and signage.  The town began a facade improvement grant program that has encouraged over $1.3 million of public and private investment into restoring the historic architecture to its original proportions.  Parking lots were acquired by the town and lots redesigned, repaved and landscaped to provide ample parking for patrons and businesses.

Downtown Manchester still serves as Manchester's front room and is an important business, service, and social center for the community.  It boasts a mix of restaurants, specialty retail, business and professional services, financial services, and housing.  Manchester is also becoming a preferred destination for technology related businesses and business services.  These types of businesses are finding downtown increasingly favorable for technology related fields because of the town's fiber optic system, which is now offering free wireless access to the internet, and the availability of internet and communications access from Cox Communications as well as SBC.  These redundant systems, low cost environment, access to services and labor, and quick access to markets are the same combination of infrastructure, human resources, and geography that have always helped Manchester's downtown survive.