Hometown Tour: Atmore

At Annie's Community Cup, Mayor Howard Shell sums up the mood of just about every business owner.

“We just want everyone to come to Atmore and spend some money,” says the Mayor. Vikki Day owns an art gallery and is one of a handful of businesses that have moved to Main Street to try and take advantage of the increased traffic from the casino.

“My life as not changed so much although I have seen more people from all parts of the country coming through Atmore and into Atmore,” says Day. She says there's a growing need for more to do along Atmore's main drag.

“I wish there were more restaurants and shops here but I think we're beginning to see that, the need for it,” says Day. Some feel the effects of the Wind Creek Casino more than others.

“The more busy the casino is the more business we get,” says Pintoli's Italian Café cashier Crystal Brown. She says they've noticed a 5% increase in business.

“It's definitely noticeable especially on the weekend, Friday, Saturday we've really picked up,” says Brown. Not everyone's feeling a boost from Wind Creek visitors.

“We've been here long enough that the locals pretty much know we're here and what we carry,” Edith Beans says her clientele is still mostly local folks. It remains to be seen how big of an impact the new visitors will have on Atmore's economy, but most people who live here agree, Atmore is just the right size for them. We’ll be live in Atmore for the last Hometown Tour of the season on Friday February 20th.