By Reid Forgrave
Enquirer staff writer

FELICITY - Long-time grocer Don Larrison remembers the glory days in his hometown.

The area surrounding Market Street, the main strip, was hopping. Four grocery stores. A dime store. A couple of clothing stores. A creamery. Two barber shops. A movie house where a nickel got you into a black-and-white picture show.

Things are different now. The IGA that Larrison, 68, owned for 31 years is now the only grocery in town. The village's only pharmacy was bought out recently by CVS and shut down. Vacant buildings dot the struggling downtown strip.

"People moved out, and nothing could be done to attract new businesses," said Larrison, who now works in real estate. "They just didn't keep up with the times, and the businesses slipped away."

But now, after neighborhood volunteers spent the past week fixing up deteriorating homes, Larrison and much of the town are feeling more optimistic.

Bright spots are popping up all over this Clermont County village, which is five miles north of the Ohio River. The past decade has brought several improvements, including a new elementary school, high school, community center, senior center , library and a walking trail.

A florist, a restaurant and a clothing store have opened downtown in recent months.

The area school district is much improved, jumping in state rankings from academic emergency to academically effective in five years.

During the past week's first-ever "Felicity Facelift," volunteers zeroed in on four houses owned by senior citizens near Felicity's center. They painted, landscaped, and pressure-washed. They worked on siding, and in one case even built a new front porch - all in the name of kick-starting enthusiasm in a town that seems on the cusp of a revival.

"It's been great to see people's reactions to this," said Michael Berry, a community development coordinator for Clermont 20/20.

Three homeowners in the area painted their houses this week after seeing all the volunteer activity going on. One thing is clear: This town is motivated to turn things around.