Along with its growth as a railroad town, Mineola became a center for a variety of robust mercantile activities.
As the 19th century turned into the 20th century, the town saw the development of a variety of commercial enterprises. These ranged from horse and buggy dealers, cotton gins, grocery stores, clothing shops, dry cleaners, and restaurants. (In very early days, there were also saloons).
Professional offices opened, including insurance businesses, law offices and medical providers. The Select Theater opened and remains in business today. The main commercial streets later saw the advent of automobile dealers, hardware stores, farm and ranch suppliers, and so on.
But in the mid-19080s, small town businesses were hit by several developments. The big indoor malls were built and attracted people from small centers to nearby cities, such as Tyler and Longview.
Some have posited that the arrival of Wal Mart in the early ‘80s took business from downtown. That is just partly true. The big discounter could offer bargains and selections that small businesses couldn't match.
But, at the same time, something else was happening that was impacting family-run businesses. The younger generation, having left Mineola to get a job or further their education, opted not to return and go into the family business. This meant that the business would likely close when the parents reached retirement.
When the big Wal Mart Super Center arrived in the mid ‘90s, Wal Mart opted to request that the land it would stand on be annexed by the city, in order to obtain city services. The city agreed and the sales tax receipts became very important, as did the jobs the super center would create.
To address the situation downtown, the city government and a group of like-minded citizens set to work, and, in 1989, Mineola became a Texas main Street City. Since that time, Mineola's downtown area has undergone a revival. Some historic homes were renovated and turned in bed and breakfast operations, attracting weekenders, day-trippers and holiday makers from the Dallas Metroplex and elsewhere.
Tourism brought more choices in restaurants, and gradually the old business sites were occupied with such things as antique malls, candy shops, fashion boutiques, and a variety of specialty shops that served the tourists as well as the townspeople.
Many structures underwent renovations that allowed them to operate under city codes but still maintain the ambience of the early 1900. Many retirees and early retirees moved in from the Metroplex. The town is also fortunate that it is less than an 85 miles commute the Dallas area and yet is untouched by congestion that has overtaken many Dallas suburbs.
The city lobbied the federal government, and the Amtrak Texas Eagle has stopped twice daily in Mineola for about 15 years, offering both tourists and locals another way to access the city and Dallas.
The city's sidewalks needed repair. Through a grant from the Texas department of Transportation, they were not only repaired and made handicapped-accessible, the historic appearance of the town was further revived with the addition of modern lamps that replicate the old gas lamps of the early 20th century. Additionally, small live oak trees dot the sidewalks and park benches have been added here and there for weary shoppers.
The old post office building, a product of the WPA projects of the late 1930s, has been preserved and it now houses the local history museum. The city acquired a large tract of land off of Hwy 69 south and today, an important land and wildlife preserve operates not far from the city and attracts both hikers, eco-tourists and bird-watchers.
The Main Street Program has been nationally recognized for its efforts, and Mineola, along with many other cities, have benefited greatly from this creative and forward-looking program. This October, the city will celebrate it's 31st anniversary as part of the program.
Today, there is seldom a weekend when you can easily find parking on Mineola's major downtown streets - such is the popularity of the area today.
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