The Historic Quincy Business District began more than 30 years ago when a group of concerned business  owners noticed current trends pulling shoppers from the Central Business District. In an effort to alter that  trend, local business owners formed Uptown Quincy, Inc. , known today as the Historic Quincy Business  District, to promote the area as a shopping and business district.

 The Historic Quincy Business District is volunteer-driven and led by our Board of Directors. HQBD strives to  develop programs that provide assistance to existing businesses and attracts both new businesses and  customers to downtown Quincy.

 The Historic Quincy Business District is committed to economic development, promotion and preservation of  downtown Quincy. Our boundaries extend from Front Street to Twelfth Street and State Street to Broadway  Street.  Working through community partnerships, we seek to revitalize downtown Quincy on a daily basis.

 At roughly the same time that our organization was formed, the National Trust for Historic Preservation  noticed that many architectural treasures in America’s smaller communities were being lost as shoppers were  drawn to businesses located on the outskirts of town or the neighboring metropolitan areas. In response, they  developed the Main Street Approach to economic development and historic preservation. Since 1996 the  Historic Quincy Business District has been participating in the Illinois Main Street Program and is proud to be a Designated Community.

Today, the Historic Quincy Business District has several committees aimed at keeping the downtown successful. Our Promotions and Marketing committees focus on the advertising and marketing of HQBD. Our Design Committee is focused on preserving buildings and improving the appearance and functionality of the Historic Quincy Business District. Our Economic Development committee not only recruits new businesses to the district, but helps to retain those businesses. As a part of our Economic Development committee, our Business Impact Teams can assist a business with almost any need. Our Organization committee is tasked with making sure that the organization’s structure is sound and that the committees are full of productive volunteers.

Our Blues in the District Committee may be one of the more well-known. The Blues Committee handles the seven “Blues in the District” concerts. These concerts, which are free to the public, are held in Washington Park throughout the summer, drawing thousands of patrons to the downtown.

Quincy’s Historic Business District offers an endless array of restaurants, retail stores, specialty shops, spas and salons. It is home to numerous law firms, medical offices and a variety of services. The district is also home to the most extensive portion of the Looking for Lincoln Story Trail outside of Springfield. Our vibrant history, from the Lincoln-Douglas debate to the Underground Railroad and the John Wood Mansion, combined with today’s conveniences make the Historic Quincy Business District truly unique. 

Mission Statement

The Historic Quincy Business District is a volunteer driven organization with a mission to promote, revitalize and preserve Quincy's historic business district through a broad-based community support, including both public and private partnerships.

Vision Statement

The Historic Quincy Business District will be an economic, cultural, entertainment, and tourism center in the Tri-State area, providing a physically attractive, thriving, and historic center for working, shopping and living. The Historic Quincy Business District will set the standard for creating an environment to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for citizens. 

The Historic Quincy Business District Office is located at

128 North 5th Street

Quincy, IL 62301

Phone: 217.228.8696

Fax: 217.228.8698

Our Staff

Travis Brown, Executive Director  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sarah Goodapple This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Helen Creech  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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