It’s been a busy summer, to say the least!

Can you believe it’s already August? Time flies when you’re programming a miniature city! Here’s a recap of what happened in the RCP office between April to June this year.

Slight Rebrand: Introducing MidCity District

At the beginning of the year, we began discussing the idea of a slight rebrand of MidCity including the removal of “Huntsville” from the logo and name. Reason being, this development serves the entire Tennessee Valley region, not just Huntsville, and we wanted to reflect that market inclusivity in everything we put out. We also want to better communicate the scale of this development – that it’s a District of multiple properties, not a singular shopping center, and spans 140 acres of 18 full city blocks which equates to 35 of Downtown’s scaled city blocks of Downtown Huntsville. We’re building a small city! So we are pleased to reintroduce to you MidCity District – an Experiential Mixed-Use Community in the Center of Huntsville.

New Businesses Open at Merchants Square

This past quarter, we welcomed the highly anticipated Chuy’s Fine Tex-Mex Restaurant to our Merchants Square Shopping Center! On the day of their grand opening, there was a line of customers awaiting outside of the Austin-based tex-mex restaurant for their chance to win vouchers for free food for a year! Also joining the Ulta-anchored center are new-to-market concepts including Brass Tap Craft Beer Bar and Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, as well as local favorite J. Whitener Boutique. We are looking forward to opening the remaining businesses at Merchants Square including Char Steakhouse, CHOPCHOP, and Great Harvest Bread Company in the coming months!

AC Hotel Ribbon Cutting Celebration

Some ribbon and a big pair of scissors makes it official! Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate the official opening of the AC Hotels by Marriott Huntsville Downtown. Located adjacent to the Von Braun Center, our hotel is within walking distance of Downtown Huntsville and hip attractions including the Huntsville Museum of Art. Amenities including The Gallery with almost 2,500 square foot of event space with floor to ceiling windows and The AC Lounge with fresh cocktails and small tapas plates. In April, RCP Companies, Yedla Management, and Doradus Partners hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony as we showcased and toured the new hotel, gave an update on the next phases of CityCentre at Big Spring, and enjoyed remarks from Mayor Tommy Battle. If you haven’t seen the hotel yet, come enjoy a drink at the AC Lounge and have a tour!

Music From The Moon International Songwriting Competition

Almost 250 entries arrived from England, Germany, Ireland, Macedonia, Australia, Norway, Argentina and 44 of 50 U.S. states. In the end, the winner of Music From The Moon, a Huntsville-based International songwriting contest tied-in with the Apollo 11 lunar mission’s 50th anniversary, came from Gresham, Oregon.

Music From The Moon is a collaboration between Huntsville songwriters showcase Listen Local, our mixed-use development MidCity District, FAME Studios, ToneWood Amps, and education-driven nonprofit Urban Engine. The contest was set to promote local singers and songwriters as well as celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing to create a body of art and give artists an opportunity to showcase and promote their craft in a platform they may or may not have otherwise have.

A panel of judges – including Grammy winners Mumford & Sons multi-instrumentalist Ben Lovett and former Civil Wars singer John Paul White and Country Music Association Musician of the Year Mac McAnally – selected Maiah Wynne’s song “Show the World” as the winner.

As the Music From The Moon winner, Wynne received $10,000 cash and prizes including a recording session at Muscle Shoals’ iconic FAME Studios and a ToneWoodAmp. In July, Wynne performed at the Apollo 11 Homecoming Celebration & Dinner at Huntsville’s U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is among those who attended.