FOLEY — Two historic downtown buildings are the winners of Foley's 2023 Beautification Awards.

The city recently presented the awards to Hollis Furniture on South McKenzie Street and the Foley Hotel building on East Laurel Avenue.

"We're very honored to recognize you and your outstanding effort to make the city of Foley the best place it can be," Mayor Ralph Hellmich said at the awards presentation. " The city of Foley, our council, the Revitalization Advisory Board, appreciate everything that you guys do for our downtown and all the efforts because it doesn't come free and we realize that that money comes out of your pocket. We appreciate it and how much it makes our city, our downtown, look so much better."

The Foley Hotel was built in 1927. Today, the two-story brick building houses several retail businesses and offices at the intersection of East Laurel Avenue and South Alston Street.

Hellmich said the recent renovations of the building's exterior by owner Frances Holk-Jones has added a great deal to the downtown location.

"They've done an outstanding job with the hotel," Hellmich said. "It just looks great "

The mayor said the Caboose Club, which operates the model train display at the Foley Depot Museum, recently built a model of the hotel to add to the exhibit. The model shows the building as it appeared in the early 1930s.

"They built a scale model at the train station folks get absolutely the scaling with the proper lights that come on and everything," Hellmich said. "If you get by the museum you should see that."

Hollis Interior and Furniture was also recognized. .

Wayne Hollis said Foley has always maintained a good environment for business in the years that his family has operated the store.

"I just want to thank the city for the cooperation that I have found in the last 70 years I've been in Foley. I've never had anybody more cooperative from business to city and I certainly appreciate that," Hollis said.