Platform Longview provides a place for small businesses to set up shop in downtown's historic Longview Junction area.
The store opened Tuesday at 813 E. Methvin St., with a grand opening and vendor event scheduled for April 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., said owner Mandy Brasher. Business hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The junction at Methvin Street and Moberly Avenue dates back to Longview's railroad roots.
The city began with the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which later became the Texas and Pacific Railroad. Longview Junction's history dates back to 1873. At the time, the Great International Railroad connected to Longview and intersected the Texas and Pacific Rivers. It's located east of the Texas & Pacific warehouse downtown.
In modern times, Junction was a run-down and largely forgotten area of town until the past year or so, due to revitalization efforts that began with the purchase of property in the area by the Goswick family. The family converted one of his buildings in the area into his Airbnb, and other businesses are now expanding into the area as well.
“We want to restore Junction to the cultural melting pot it was,” Brasher said. She has known Goswicks for about 20 years, she said.
Brasher previously ran a successful T-shirt business that shipped products around the world, but he said working with small businesses is one of his passions.
“That's what we're doing here,” she said, explaining that the 5,100-square-foot platform currently provides housing for 42 small businesses.
“We do their marketing from here and we act as their cash register,” Brasher said. The building, previously Hay's RV, has a patio and enclosed bay that will allow it to provide space for more corporate and vendor events. What she calls Imagination Station will provide a place for the platform to host art classes and summer camps.
The platform provides a home for everything from women's boutique fashion, children's fashion, laser engraving, olive oil companies, artisan bakeries, jewelry boutiques, candles, coffee roasters, and handmade soaps.
“I wanted it to be in the community and in a place where we could contribute to the community,” Brasher said. “(Goswicks) is really stepping up to revitalize the Junction, which is exactly what we wanted.”
FirstLite Nutrition owner Marcus Jeansonne and store employee Michelle Hooker served customers together on the store's final day. Jeansonne, a Marine Corps veteran, said he doesn't yet know what he'll do next.
Closed
FirstLite Nutrition closed Friday on Fredonia Street in downtown Longview.
Marcus Jeansonne and his father Gerald opened a business selling Herbalife-based teas and shakes about five years ago.
“The economy, prices continue to rise,” Marcus Jeansonne said Friday, explaining the reason for the closure. He said he has seen his business transform from a place where people buy their daily tea to a “luxury purchase”.
“After COVID-19, we recovered,” he said, but subsequent cost increases made it impossible to continue operating.
On Friday, regular customers stopped by for the last time, and Jeansonne reminded them that she offered to purchase tea kits. He said customers can connect with him on the company's Facebook page at facebook.com/firstlitenutrition.
“It's been fun. It's been a really fun journey,” he said, reminding people to support small businesses, which is a way to support the community.
“I'm going to miss the job. I'm going to miss the people,” he said.
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