On a warm spring day this week, seniors and staff from Clay Senior and Community Services Inc. could be seen planting flowers in decorative boxes throughout downtown Clay — a simple act that many residents say reflects something larger happening across the town.
For years, the organization has maintained the flower boxes it originally installed around town, helping bring color and life to Main Street. This year’s planting comes at a time when Clay is seeing a noticeable wave of cleanup efforts, renovations and new small business growth that many hope signals a new chapter for the community.
“What a beautiful day to brighten up our town,” the organization wrote in a social media post. “Today our amazing seniors and staff spent time planting flowers in the flower boxes around Clay, helping make our community even more welcoming and beautiful.”
While the flowers themselves may seem small, they now sit alongside construction projects, storefront renovations and new business openings that are slowly reshaping parts of the town.
Long-Abandoned Building Under Major Renovation
One of the most visible changes is taking place beside Clay County Bank, where a long-vacant building that once housed several hair salons is now undergoing a major transformation.
For a while, the structure sat abandoned and deteriorating in the center of town. Now, however, construction crews are actively remodeling the building into the new Prestera building and office space.
A large dumpster currently sits outside the property while windows have been boarded up during extensive interior work. Residents passing through Main Street daily have watched steady progress as crews begin breathing new life into the once-neglected building.
The renovation represents one of the clearest signs yet that investment is beginning to return to downtown Clay.
Former Gas Station Becoming Ice Cream Shop
Another highly visible project is taking shape beside the funeral home, where the former gas station — later home to Rollin’ on the River bike rentals — is being converted into a new hand-dipped ice cream shop called The Ice Cream Parlor. Rollin’ on the River is not closing, but instead relocating to a new location.
The ice cream shop is owned by Clay County natives Aiden Taylor and Isaac Brown, who earlier this year also purchased and remodeled the interior of The Blume Flower, the town’s premier flower shop. The Ice Cream Parlor is expected to open later this summer.
Work has already begun at the property, transforming the building into what owners hope will become a family-friendly gathering place in town.
The addition of an ice cream shop marks another example of younger entrepreneurs investing in Clay County and attempting to bring new energy to the local economy.
Wave of New Small Businesses
The recent projects follow several other small business openings and announcements across Clay in recent months.
As previously reported by The Clay Communicator, Coal Dust & Chrome, a new nail salon on Main Street, is expected to open in June. The salon plans to offer a full range of nail services and later expand into pedicures and esthetician services — offerings that have not been widely available locally.
Meanwhile, The Town Tailor Boutique Shop recently opened at 682 Main Street. Owned by Jeanne Rothwell, a former fashion designer and production manager for Vanity Fair, the business offers formalwear, alterations and custom fittings.
Additional food trucks have also begun appearing around town, adding more dining options and contributing to increased activity throughout the community.
Together, the businesses represent what many residents describe as a slow but steady period of growth in Clay County.
Community Beautification Efforts Continue
The momentum is not only being driven by businesses and construction projects. Community groups and volunteers are also working to improve the appearance of Clay County through cleanup and beautification efforts.
Recently, members of the Clay County Clovers and Teen Leaders 4-H clubs participated in the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s REAP “Make It Shine” days as part of their ongoing Reduce, Reuse, Recycle project.
According to the WVU Clay County Extension Service, the youth volunteers spent the day collecting trash around Dundon Station, underneath the Dundon Bridge and along more than a mile of roadway toward Pisgah.
“A big How-How to this dedicated group of youth,” the Extension Service wrote in a social media post recognizing the volunteers and their efforts.
The cleanup project adds to a growing number of local initiatives aimed at improving community appearance and encouraging civic pride among younger generations.
Recreation and Public Improvements
The business activity also comes alongside several public and recreational improvement projects.
Recently, Clay County opened its first pickleball court, adding another recreational opportunity for residents and visitors. The project was widely viewed as another positive step toward revitalizing community spaces and encouraging more activity downtown.
Clay County Bank has also made visible improvements to its property in recent months, including cleaning and repainting portions of the building exterior. Residents had previously noted the building appeared weathered and dirty, and the updates have helped improve the appearance of one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks.
Combined with ongoing beautification efforts like the flower planters maintained by Clay Senior and Community Services, many residents say the town is beginning to look more cared for and active than it has in years.
Challenges Still Remain
Despite the momentum, reminders of Clay’s struggles remain visible.
The burned remains of the historic Henry Clay Hotel still sit in disrepair following the devastating fire that destroyed much of the structure. Rubble from the site remains uncleared, and many residents continue expressing concerns about both safety hazards and the impact the property has on the appearance of downtown.
The town also continues to face an ongoing homelessness problem that many residents say has not been meaningfully addressed. Individuals experiencing homelessness are often seen throughout downtown and other public areas, reflecting broader economic and social challenges facing rural communities across West Virginia.
While many residents express compassion for those facing hardship, business owners and community members have increasingly voiced concerns about the impact the issue is having on downtown activity, tourism and the overall image of the town. Some local businesses say the visible struggles in parts of downtown can discourage visitors and create challenges for efforts aimed at attracting new investment and economic growth.
Residents have also pointed to the lack of long-term solutions, saying that while the issue is widely acknowledged, the community and local leadership have so far been unable to successfully address the root causes or provide consistent resources that could help those in need while also improving conditions downtown.
For some, the contrast between abandoned properties, visible social struggles and new investment highlights the crossroads at which the community currently stands. New businesses, beautification projects and renovations are bringing optimism, but many believe continued progress will require addressing both economic development and the deeper community issues still affecting the town.
Still, many residents say the recent projects provide hope that Clay may be entering a period of renewal after years of economic decline and vacant storefronts.
From flowers blooming in downtown planter boxes to youth groups cleaning roadsides and construction crews renovating abandoned buildings, signs of change are becoming increasingly visible throughout Clay County — one project at a time.
