The revitalization of Downtown Sanger is Underway

Downtown Sanger serves as a staple of the community and residents alike, giving visitors a feel for what the city is like when they stop by

Though the area has evolved, there’s still plenty of room for growth. Currently, the area has Mavericks Screen Printing and Cristal Bakery serving as flagship businesses, among others, in the area. Cristal Bakery, for instance, has been operating for 40 years and has seen their business remain steady, and generate an increased amount of customers especially during the holiday season.

“Business is pretty good throughout the year. We mostly try to focus on towards the end of the year, more towards the holidays. We’re real big on Christmas. We’re a real Catholic place here at the restaurant. And it just, we want more people to come visit us here at the restaurant.” Cashier Christian Tienda said

“We are very open and friendly here at the Crystal Bakery.” Tienda added.

The bakery is well known for serving Pan Dulce and an assortment of breakfast and lunch burritos to it’s customers

Elsewhere, Mavericks Screen Printing is operating with the communities designing interests taking priority over all else. Mavericks produces clothing such as T-shirts and hoodies that support local high schools such as Sanger High and Sanger West. They can also print any design customers want on a solid color T-shirt. No copyrighted logos on images can be used by the businesses.

Mavericks screen printing owner Martian Arambula says he is excited to do his part in helping the city grow downtown. He says he’s “really trusting” the people around him to do their part as well

I really feel and I’m trusting the people here, and it’s been actually a blast to grow with them, beside them, to make Sanger kind of flourish the way the direction has been going.” Arambula said.

Going forward, the use of a hands-off approach might be the best for business owners to grow and explore with their business. Community Development Director Joshua Goggins believes that city managers should place less “onerous” polices on business owners and start letting them operate comfortably or as they see fit.

Goggins also says that the city should aim to build the downtown area with more of the community’s interests in mind

“I think that for Sanger, what we need to do is be reflective of what the citizens want, what the market kind of demand is, and try to find a way to kind of pair it, and then just get out of the way”. Goggins explained.

“Let people operate. Let people be in business. Don’t have onerous policies on them, and just let them do their thing”. Goggins concluded