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ALBANY, GA -- Atop the parking deck during Nights@dtown and during the open house for the Downtown Fresh Market, Southwest Georgians were saying, “Downtown Albany is alive!”

Friday evening, the Downtown Fresh Market held a dedication ceremony as it opened its doors for the community to sample their products and meet the farmers.

The building the fresh market is located in was bought by Ray Linier’s sons years ago in honor of their father, who is an Albany aficionado and loves the city.

“A store like this is going to be so nice and helpful too. We need vegetables we need fruit, so I just think it's wonderful,” says Linier.

BJ Fletcher unveiled a memorial in honor of Linier in the Downtown General Store which features much of his war memorabilia.

The Downtown Fresh Market features organic vegetables and coffee. Some of the produce is grown by local farmers. The fresh market also features a lunch menu that includes sandwiches and fruit smoothies made from produce found in the store.

Also Friday evening was the debut of Nights@dtown, a monthly event for adults and young professionals to gather for food, drinks, live music and see local artists.

The “Deck of Arts” was on top of the parking deck at the corner of Broad and Jackson, and not only was there live music going on but also… live painting. Local artists posted up on the deck with blank canvases and their supplies ready to make a masterpiece right in front of people.

“We're excited about it and it's fun to walk around town and hear people talk about it and being at some of the grand openings of some of the stores and hearing the people talking about the excitement of being there so it's going to be fun,” says Downtown Manager Aaron Blair.

On Saturday, three businesses downtown are officially opening their doors including Global Essence, the Downtown Fresh Market, and Ethnic Shynes.