Main Street Movers – March 2025
March 31, 2025 | Logan Breer
The Main Street Approach™ allows community members to implement revitalization efforts in Missouri’s Main Streets leading to thriving, vibrant economic and cultural hubs. Gathering a broad-based community commitment to revitalization is one of the Accreditation Standards set by Main Street America that guides and measures the success of a Main Street program’s efforts. Within this standard, Main Streets work to cultivate engagement and collaboration from the public and private sectors around a strong sense of ownership in their historic commercial district. Meet some of these Main Street Movers that are engaged with a strong sense of ownership in their historic commercial district, including board members, committee members, volunteers, and invested business owners. The following women, among many others, inspire, support, and strengthen their families, communities, and our country through their determination to serve their local Main Street.
Randi Dirnberger, Old Town Cape
There is a lot to know about Randi Dirnberger! She is a volunteer, business owner, wife, and mother. In 2014, Randi started volunteering for Old Town Cape, the Accredited Main Street program in Cape Girardeau, to be more involved in her community after settling down in her “college town”. This marked the beginning of a new phase in her life with her husband when they purchased a home downtown and opened Katy O’Ferrells. In 2020, she joined the board to continue supporting downtown and enlighten her kids on the joy and benefits it brings, both personally and as a community, to give back. She is the current Board President of Old Town Cape. Randi shared “I enjoy contributing my time to the organization, especially for my favorite events including: Tunes at Twilight, weekly Farmers Market, and the Christmas Tree Lighting.” She is a perfect fit for Main Street and Old Town Cape as she enjoys and is determined to bring people downtown and support new business owners in her area.
When Randi is not working her day job as a Care Partner Success Specialist with Lingraphica, providing support to those with Aphasia and their families, she is a business owner with her husband for Katy O’ Ferrell’s and Blush Ultra Lounge, as well as part part-owner of D’ladiums Sports Bar. Katy O’Ferrels is a destination Irish Pub in Downtown Cape located in a beautiful, historic building that housed many businesses over the past 200+ years.
You wouldn’t think that with all these responsibilities, Randi would have much free time, yet she shared, “In my free time, I go to the lake, explore new restaurants, and spend time with my family. When my kids and I walk by the river and get ice cream at the Port Cape window it is the best of both worlds as we are combining family time with supporting local businesses!”
What an inspiration! Randi is definitely someone who is engaged in her local community making a difference from her strong sense of ownership and determination to support and inspire her family and community. Her closing remark was, “Cape is growing, come be a part!”
Lolli’s Off the Square – Ozark
Meet Donna and her best friend Regina. In September of 2024, these two ladies expanded their small business to Ozark after several years in Branson West as a small BBQ joint. Donna and her husband, known lovingly by their grandkids as Lolli and Pop, started Pop’s Smoke Shack in Kimberling City five years ago. Following a fire, Pop’s moved to their current location in Branson West, where their son is in the process of taking over. What a wonderful example of a generational family businesses growing.
Donna and Regina chose to open Lolli’s Off the Square in Ozark after falling in love with the location in the spring of 2024. Donna shared, “We fell in love with this spot just off the square and are looking forward to serving this community.” Following the soft opening of their new location, they launched a spectacular menu for Lolli’s including soup, salads, sandwiches, some of their smoked meat, and homemade sides.
One unique aspect of Lolli’s Off the Square that Donna brought from Pop’s is the “Giving Wall”. This is a wall in their restaurant where patrons can contribute any amount to pass forward for others, who are in need, to use for a meal, especially when times are hard. Donna shared that, “We are very grateful to see it blessing people here in this community already.”
They established themselves as the place to have lunch for a positive experience, good food, and loving memories with their motto, “Lunch is a Matter of Choices.” If you haven’t made it into try the BBQ at Lolli’s you defiantly should if you are in the area because you will make so many new friends!
Theresa Osenbaugh, Downtown Grain Valley
Grain Valley has a passionate leader in their midst and her name is Theresa Osenbaugh. She is the Deputy City Administrator for the City of Grain Valley and the current Board President of Downtown Grain Valley Main Street, an affiliate Main Street program. The Board of Directors shared, “She’s done a great job working with the student government at Grain Valley High School to recruit student volunteers.” Together, Theresa, the board members of Downtown Grain Valley, and student volunteers from Grain Valley High School have infused energy into their plans for downtown and established ways to give teenagers a reason to visit and stay engaged in the community. They’ve collaborated to bring window painting to downtown businesses, reignite school spirit across the city, engage high schoolers in art initiatives during First Fridays, and more.
The most meaningful project they have collaborated on with the high school students has been reviving the Homecoming Pep Rally—a tradition that had disappeared for years. Bringing this event back to the heart of the city boosted community pride, supported downtown businesses, and created new opportunities for sponsorship and leadership partnerships. Theresa shared, “Working with Grain Valley High School, particularly the student government group, has been a full-circle experience for me, as I once participated in these same groups as a high school student.” By supporting the growth and opportunities for students, they are strengthening their entire community for generations to come.
Theresa is clearly an inspiration for Grain Valley High School students and the City of Grain Valley as her passion for investing in both the students and the community radiates from her. She is a perfect example of what an engaged citizen who shapes the place they call home looks like.
These Main Street Movers are a portion of the individuals engaged in their local historic commercial district with a strong sense of ownership and community pride. Follow MMSC to see more Main Street Movers featured throughout the year as the board and committees of each Main Street program work best when it reflects the unique walks of life found in its community as the capacity for leadership is inside everyone.
1 thought on “March 31, 2025 – Main Street Movers”
Great stories of inspiring women!