Downtown Canton, TX
March 2021
There’s nothing much better than taking a leisurely stroll on a beautifully blue spring day with a cool crispness in the air while doing a little shopping. In Canton, TX, you can do that very thing in the Walking Capital of Texas. First Monday Trade Days is definitely known for walking and shopping with several hundred acres and thousands of vendors. Canton City officials have estimated that over 5.4 billion steps are taken in the greater Canton, TX area over a busy First Monday weekend. But, don’t let First Monday be the only reason for a visit to Canton, TX.
Canton First Monday Trade Days grounds backs right up to the north side of Downtown Canton. It’s natural given that First Monday originated from the gatherings in the town square on court days. As the capital of Van Zandt county, Canton was the heart of the community.

As America’s overall economy has grown, small town America has suffered. It’s a well known fact that interstate highways were designed to bypass the congestion created by increased commerce traveling through small towns. Canton, TX was certainly not immune as Interstate 20 is just about a mile and a half north of the town.
Historic Downtown Canton by virtue of the Canton Main Street Program is a Main Street Community through the Texas Main Street Program which is affiliated with Main Street America Program. Sounds confusing, but the mission of the national program is to help state and local programs revitalize, restore, and strengthen communities through preservation-based economic development. As Downtown Canton was once the center of the community because of court days, the Canton Main Street Program is leading the revitalization of downtown to bring back the charm and atmosphere of small town Texas while preserving Canton’s history.

What this means for visitors is that Downtown Canton is becoming a destination unto itself. Small business owners are establishing their shops and restaurants in newly renovated buildings that retain the culture and charm of historic downtown instead of having large national chains demolish entire blocks to put up chain stores.
From smoothies on Buffalo St. to a straight razor shave on West Dallas St., antiques on East Terrell St. to coffee on East Tyler Street, Mexican food on East Dallas St. and deserts and pastries on South Buffalo St., downtown Canton, TX has a lot to offer in a historic and endearing environment. Shop small and help support local businesses in the Canton community.
The Canton Shopping Guide has made it easy to find anything and everything you are looking for in Downtown Canton. On the home page, simply scroll down to “Review Vendors by Area” and click the “Downtown Canton” button. It couldn’t be any easier. When you visit businesses in Downtown Canton, be sure to let them know that you found them on the Canton Shopping Guide.
To learn more about the Canton Main Street program visit their website: https://www.cantonmainstreet.org
The Canton Shopping Guide is an easy to use website created to help shoppers locate anything that they are looking for in the Canton, TX area. You can search by Vendor Name, Item Category and Location. Review vendor products on their profile page and easily contact them. You can also rate Canton vendors and save your favorite ones for future reference!
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Feature image courtesy of Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image has been cropped and edited for style.