main street

street that serves as a principal thoroughfare for traffic in a town any small town (or the people who inhabit it)

generally used to represent parochialism and materialism (after a novel by Sinclair Lewis)

"Main Street will never vote for a liberal politician"

of the Past,' perhaps the best known American city when referencing Main Street America.]]''This article is about the street; for the Sinclair Lewis novel, see Main Street (novel)''Main Street is the generic street namename (and sometimes the official name) of the primary business street of a small town in the United States and Canada. The equivalent in the United Kingdom is High street.In some larger cities, a Main Street may also exist, but is more usually the major commercial street of a specific neighbourhood rather than the city as a whole.

Cultural importance - , featuring typical elements like diagonal parking, trees, and banners.]]In the North American media, "Main Street," or the interests of small businesssmall businessmen, is sometimes contrasted with "Wall Street" (in the United States) or "Bay Street" (in Canada), symbolizing the interests of corporate capitalism."Main Street" is part of the iconography of American life. Examples include: , featuring the small shops and old-fashioned architecture typical of rural towns.]]

In the United States, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the outfit that operates the PX and BX stores on military bases, chose the name "Main Street USA" for its food courts.

The novel ''Main Street (novel)Main Street'', a critique of small town life, was penned by the great American writer Sinclair Lewis.

Two Walt Disney Company amusement parks, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, both have "Main Street USA" sections immediately at their front. Such areas are designed to look like the main street of a small town.

Preservation and Main Street - mainstreet.org - Main Street is the name of a community revitalization program begun by the nationaltrust.org - National Trust for Historic Preservation in the late 1970s. The core of the Main Street philosophy is the preservation of the historic built environment by engaging in historic preservation. Main Street focuses on a wholistic approach to revitalization based on the "4-point" approach of design, promotions, economic restructuring, and organization. Originally targeted at small, traditional downtowns, the program now encompasses sections of large urban centers.

International equivalents -

In the German languageGerman cultural and language bloc in Central Europe (Austria, Germany, and Switzerland), there is a "Bahnhofstrasse" (literally, "railroad station street") in many towns and cities. In some of them (notably Zurich), Bahnhofstrasse is the actual equivalent of Main Street.

Hong Kong officials, under British rule, usually translate Chinese Ching Kai (正街) or Tai Kai (大街) as Main Street. These main streets were usually the largest street of a village or town.

In England, the terms "Market Street" or "Market Place" are often used to designate the heart of a town or city, as is the more common (certainly in newer urban developments, or towns or cities which were not original market towns) "High Street".

See also -

Shopping mall

Strip mall

Electric Avenue

Disneyland

Will it play in !Peoria?ja:商店" 903;zh:商业街category:stree ts? and roadsCategory:urban studies and planning

Main Street Education Centre: High School Completion. Courses from Grade 8-12. Adult and Continuing Education. The place to be to finish secondary school!
Main Street Education Centre: Your Gateway to the Future! Come here to finish your Secondary School Diploma. Offering courses from grade 8-12 by highly qualified teachers, in a friendly, college-like environment. Vancouver's best place to upgrade or finish school!
http://www.mainstreeted.com/

Treasure I-LAN Ccomputer Gaming Comics
Opened in June 2002, Treasure I-LAN is a LAN/Traditional Gaming store, with everything from Computer LAN Gaming to boardgames and comics.
http://www.ilangaming.com/

Mabel Tainter Theater
A restored Victorian theater in the heart of downtown Menomonie. Houses year-round art exhibits and offers a full performing arts season that includes theater, music concerts, children's shows, and dance. Visit our website for more information!
http://www.mabeltainter.com/

ESV Teleproductions
Full service multi-media production for DVD, web and broadcas tv.
http://www.esvteleproductions.com/

stadtwelt
chicago - berlin based architecture design studio
http://www.stadtwelt.de/

Laughing Bodies Yoga & Pilates
Offering Yoga and Pilates in 2 beautiful, hard wood floors - natural sunlight studio!
http://www.laughingbodies.com/

Law Office of Robert P. Murray
Massachusetts family law office. Services include divorce and related family matters, estate planning and real estate matters. Practice is focused in Middlesex and Worcester Counties.
http://www.murrayesq.com/

Maintreet Uptown Butte
Mainstreet Uptown Butte works to preserve and enhance historic Uptown Butte,Montana.Projects in design and promotion strive to preserve the traditional shopping district of Butte, Montana and ensure economic vitality and prosperity in Uptown Butte,Montana.
http://www.mainstreetbutte.org/

Mountain High Lodge
Rustic charm with elegant accents and genuine hospitality await you at Mountain High Lodge. Located on Main Street, within easy walking distance of quaint shops and fine dining. We offer a variety of room types from our spacious double rooms to our king and deluxe rooms.
http://www.mountainhighinn.com/

Arts Canandaigua
Welcome to Arts Canandaigua. We are a collaboration of artists, galleries, and crafts people in Canandaigua New York. We are located in historic downtown Canandaigua just twenty five minutes south of Rochester in the Finger lakes region.
http://www.artscanandaigua.com/

Northcoast Artists Gallery
The cooperative, as the name suggests, is owned, managed, and staffed by a membership of twenty working artists, whose spirt and enthusiasm is evident in ongowing displays of there current work in the gallery and online.
http://www.northcoastartists.org/

Portland Oregon Dining Online
Your best guide to resturants and catering in portland, oregon
http://www.portlanddining.com/

Greater Houston Preservation Alliance
A private, not-for-profit, membership organization founded in 1978 to promote the preservation and appreciation of the architectural and cultural historic resources of Houston, Texas.
http://www.ghpa.org/

Hofbrauhaus Restaurant
Bavarian and International fine dining with old world decor and servers in traditional attire. Seasonal menu's, beer, wine, and game dinners yearly, Spaten and many other great draft and bottled beers available. *Private Rooms are Available for Functions*
http://www.hofbrauhaus.org/

HighlandsNorthCarolina.com
Resource Guide to Highlands, North Carolina
http://www.highlandsnorthcarolina.com/

Griffin Corners cafe
Restaurant, sports bar, cafe, club and entertainment
http://www.griffinscornerscafe.com/

Republican National Committee
Official Internet home of the Republican National Committee. Updated daily with news and commentary from the RNC.
http://www.rnc.org/

Main Street Mom
A website for "modern mothers with traditional values." Offers articles, links and message boards.
http://www.mainstreetmom.com/

Main Street Station Brewery Hotel Casino
Microbrewery located in downtown Las Vegas. Offers gaming, shows and hotel accommodation.
http://www.mainstreetcasino.com/

Inn on Main Street
Victorian furnished with antiques. Features video tour, description of accommodations, and newsletter of upcoming events.
http://www.innonmain.com/

Main Street Vermont
A business and community events directory featuring "Printable Coupons".
http://www.mainstreetvermont.com/

MainStreet Newspapers
Weekly community newspapers in Northeast Georgia including The Jackson Herald, The Commerce News, The Banks County News, and the Madison County Journal.
http://www.mainstreetnews.com/