Vacant, dilapidated buildings are getting another lease on life in Cisco.
Half a dozen new shops have opened their doors in downtown Cisco recently -- and even more are in the works.
It's a new trend in town, as people who have deep roots in the area move back to breathe new life into old buildings.
"These are buildings we've seen our whole life," said business owner Heather Nichols. "We don't want to see them torn down, we want to fix them up."
That is definitely the case for the old S&M Supply building off State Highway six.
The building was a mop supply company that shut down in April and was soon bought by two sisters.
Together, they turned the 30,000 square foot building into a chic salon-slash-tumbling studio.
"You've got to have a large building and you can find buildings large enough to do just about anything with. It's affordable and fixing them up, it's fun," Nichols said.
For former school teachers Sean and Kasity Grose, starting their new business in the heart of downtown Cisco was both a gamble and Godsend.
"After we lost our daughter, we had to start school, so we didn't have time to mourn," Kasity said.
So the couple took what they call a spiritual sabbatical, and from there, the decision to move their family to Cisco and purchase a vacant building was made.
"Lo and behold, here we are a year later, running a little coffee shop in a little town that's exciting to be in and exciting to be a part of," said Sean Grose.
The couple said they are living out the American dream -- and their own dream -- by opening up the Waverly's coffee shop and living right above it.
"There are good days and bad days," said Kasity. "Sometimes we're so busy it's overwhelming and other days, it's restful."
Besides the mom-and-pop shops opening up in downtown, there is also a new Chicken Express restaurant right off Interstate 20 in Cisco that has been busy since day one.
Half a dozen new shops have opened their doors in downtown Cisco recently -- and even more are in the works.
It's a new trend in town, as people who have deep roots in the area move back to breathe new life into old buildings.
"These are buildings we've seen our whole life," said business owner Heather Nichols. "We don't want to see them torn down, we want to fix them up."
That is definitely the case for the old S&M Supply building off State Highway six.
The building was a mop supply company that shut down in April and was soon bought by two sisters.
Together, they turned the 30,000 square foot building into a chic salon-slash-tumbling studio.
"You've got to have a large building and you can find buildings large enough to do just about anything with. It's affordable and fixing them up, it's fun," Nichols said.
For former school teachers Sean and Kasity Grose, starting their new business in the heart of downtown Cisco was both a gamble and Godsend.
"After we lost our daughter, we had to start school, so we didn't have time to mourn," Kasity said.
So the couple took what they call a spiritual sabbatical, and from there, the decision to move their family to Cisco and purchase a vacant building was made.
"Lo and behold, here we are a year later, running a little coffee shop in a little town that's exciting to be in and exciting to be a part of," said Sean Grose.
The couple said they are living out the American dream -- and their own dream -- by opening up the Waverly's coffee shop and living right above it.
"There are good days and bad days," said Kasity. "Sometimes we're so busy it's overwhelming and other days, it's restful."
Besides the mom-and-pop shops opening up in downtown, there is also a new Chicken Express restaurant right off Interstate 20 in Cisco that has been busy since day one.
