Everyone in Australia asked us what “home” was like. I told our friend Ken that McKinney was a small town, just 190,000 people, and he damn near choked. That’s a big city by Aussie standards.
Jamie and I were having cool, refreshing beverages outside a downtown restaurant the other day when the man who gets the credit for revitalizing downtown McKinney came walking past. We’ve lived here six years and I’ve seen him walking around “his” downtown a thousand times but have never spoken to him before.
I called out his name. I think he was surprised to hear a stranger call out to him. I shook his hand, introduced Jamie and myself, and thanked him for creating this wonderful little downtown. McKinny was a rundown, forgotten spot on the map before he invested his considerable time and energy and money in its downtown real estate when everyone else thought it was folly.
Look at the wonderful little town he’s restored, rebuilt, and recreated.
The downtown square isn’t very large. It’s basically one block of shops across from each side of the old courthouse.
Check out the cool red metal chicken above the store on the left side of the photo. I’d love to have that thing sitting on our front porch.
In the center of the downtown square sits the former Collin County Courthouse, now the McKinney Performing Arts Center.
Over on the right of this photo, the building with the red and yellow awnings is Spoons, the coffee shop/restaurant where Jamie and I enjoy a cold iced tea or two on hot summer afternoons.
The downtown square comes alive with happy Texans during the various festivals that occur during the year. Not sure, but this one looks like either 4th of July or Oktoberfest. On second thought: It looks like people are bundled up for cold weather, so it’s definitely not 4th of July and it’s highly unlikely that it would be that cool for Oktoberfest, so I honestly have no idea what this festival might be.
Looks a pretty nice place. Not as nice as Aussie ‘tho.🤣And not as “rona” free. 🤣