A new shop opened downtown on Washington Street amid the recent flux of high-end luxury apartments.

The Dragonfly located in the former Men’s Closet building, 1211 Washington St., held its grand opening Thursday and symbolizes the very meaning of its name. The Dragonfly in almost every part of the world symbolizes change, and change in the perspective of self-realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.

The store’s owner Shannon Shealy, whose husband is the Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent, said the dragonfly’s scurrying flight across water represents an act of going beyond what is on the surface and looking into the deeper implications and aspects of life.

For too long, Washington Street was littered with vacant storefronts and vagrants and it was hard for anyone looking to locate downtown to see past that.

“We are excited to welcome another business to downtown,” Vicksburg Main Street executive director Kim Hopkins said.

She said the Shealys’ decision to locate downtown would serve as an incentive for other businesses to locate in the area.

“We are getting calls from people asking about locating their business downtown,” she said. “Washington Street is growing, and we’re very happy we’re gaining another resident.”

“This meaning seemed appropriate for our family as we are excited about the positive changes that are happening and coming in Vicksburg,” Shealy said. “We look forward to being a part of this positive change and all the good things yet to come.”

Good things are happening downtown and the parade to welcome home Super Bowl XLIX and hometown hero Malcolm Butler held a magnifying glass up to the area. The reaction to our beautiful city has been phenomenal and progress starts slow, but is gathering steam.