The Tour of Empty Buildings

The Tour of Empty Buildings - video and audio

Empty buildings need to be showcased, not ignored. Learn how Deb’s original Tour of Empty Buildings created new businesses and new energy for a small town. Together, they filled 10 of 12 empty buildings and saved their local movie theater.

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Webster City, Iowa, in 2013. The big factory had been closed for two years. Then Deb Brown drove into town to interview for the Chamber of Commerce director job.

Deb says:
On my way to the interview I counted 14 empty buildings downtown! I knew it would be part of my job to fill those empty buildings. It felt overwhelming. I wasn’t sure I wanted the job! Well, they offered it to me, and I said yes.

Then four days after I started, the movie theater closed! Locals said it felt like a gut punch, and it meant one more empty building.

At my first executive board meeting, Joel, my board president said to me “How are YOU going to fill these empty buildings?”

I said, “Here's what WE are going to do. We’re going to tour them, show them off.”

In just 4 weeks, they got 12 buildings ready to tour. They welcomed 44 people that night, and that was just the beginning.

Headlines describe the tour of empty buildings. "The Tour declared a success"

Over the next 18 months, 10 of those 12 buildings were filled.

And they saved the movie theater.

How did they do it?

A lot of preparation, a lot of follow up and a lot of small but meaningful involvement by as many people as possible. They made sure everyone could be a hero.

Looking back over 10 years, Deb can see it was about much more than just empty buildings.

It was the feeling of disastrous loss of their major employer when the manufacturer closed down.

People felt like the town was dying, and there was nothing they could do about it.

It was also about the increased hardship, poverty, loss of identity and other impacts on former employees and the whole community.

We created this video to help you with your own turnaround story.

Whether your challenge is empty buildings or the feeling of loss from another disaster, you'll take inspiration and practical steps to improve your own community.

This is the perfect story to share at your annual banquet, work session or before your next annual planning meeting.

Now you might be tempted to think our results in Webster City are because we’re special or something. It’s not true! Any town can do this because the win is in the conversations you create, not in the buildings themselves.

We brought people together and changed the conversation from negative to positive. We allowed people to test out their business ideas without the large investment of buying a building. Some of what we tried worked, and some didn’t. We laughed and kept going.

Webster City did not start with a strong economy or strong community ties. When we changed the conversation, we changed how we thought of ourselves, what our identity was. When we took action through the tour and all the other experiences, we helped people act their way into a new way of seeing our community.

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Get the full video and audio to watch on your own and share with others in your community.

This video is perfect for:

Agencies serving multiple rural communities
Community foundations, community leadership training
Utilities, electric cooperatives, telecommunications cooperatives
Tribes, Native and First Nation governments and organizations
Downtown groups, Main Street, merchants associations, retail groups
Economic development organizations, workforce groups
Rural banks, lenders
Chambers of Commerce, independent business alliances, business improvement groups, “local first” groups
Tourism, convention and visitors bureau
Newspapers, rural media, online media
University based rural programs, initiatives, studies

Not another tiresome webinar

Short, to the point video and audio

Watch instantly on your schedule: anytime, on demand, starting now

Recorded so you can pause, stop, rewind or watch again immediately
Download the audio version and listen anytime

You get personal access to Becky and Deb via message, email and comment. We do answer your questions personally!

Watch the full video now

Share with others in your community as many times as you want
Download the audio to listen on the go

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If you were wondering...

Is this video recorded so I can watch later?

Yes, the video is recorded, and you'll be able to watch it immediately as soon as you complete your purchase. You are welcome to watch the video more than once, start and stop, or go back and watch again. You're not limited to watching from a single computer or with just one group.

Can I get a copy of the slides?

You get a transcript plus an audio-only version for listening on the go. A downloadable PDF includes lots of photos.

What if I have questions?

You can ask questions two ways: in the comment box or via email. We always answer you personally. You can also share stories or examples you've seen. That helps everyone!

Will the video play on my computer? Or on my phone?

Either one! If you can watch a YouTube video, you can watch this video. That means you can use any device, any screen that can load a web page for you to login. Any PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone or tablet, smart TV or TV with a streaming box or stick should work.
You don't need blazing fast internet.

Can I share the video with other people?

Yes! Once you’re registered, you can schedule more than one viewing so you reach as many people as possible. We encourage you to watch on your own or set up an in-person or virtual watch party.

How long should I make a watch party?

For a watch party, schedule 45 -50 minutes. You'll want that extra time to discuss what you watched and to network and talk with each other.

Who should I invite?

Your friends who love to do things with you
Visionaries like yourself
Downtown associations, Main Streets, chambers and economic developers
Positive thinkers and doers
Leaders and regular people
Community foundations and leadership groups
Youth groups, young entrepreneurs
Elected officials from your local municipalities, counties or tribes
Business with a community focus, like banks and utilities
People who care about your town

Is there an audio version?

Yes! A separate audio version is included. You can listen on the website, or download it to your phone and listen on the go.

A map of the tour, people walking through empty buildings, "for sale" sign, the hero volunteers and the restored movie theater marquee sign says "Zero to Hero"

Watch the Full video, get the audio and downloads

The Tour of Empty Buildings

18 minute video
Downloadable audio
available immediately

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What people like you say about SaveYour.Town videos

This video stimulated lots of note-taking and conversation between the business owners gathered at my house. Deb and Becky gave us some new ideas and several excellent examples of known models. I think some of us are thinking of pivoting our summer’s plans after participating in Wednesday’s event. Thanks for a well-thought out presentation!

Jonya Pacey, Minnesota

What a TERRIFIC marketing Video. I had 20 businesses show up to watch and they all left with new ideas and an excitement to get back and start implementing! I’ve already had 5 businesses reach out in less than 2 hours after it ended, that are already putting your ideas into action.

Mandy Walsh, City of Lampasas, Texas

There are always great take-aways from the videos that can be put into place immediately. One of my favorites is changing your store's evening vibe (different music, lighting, etc.) because evening shoppers are not the same as day time shoppers.

Diane Moore, Wheaton, Illinois

Videos by SaveYour.Town are fun way to learn some no-nonsense alternatives to community inertia.

Clark Hoskin, Ontario

The Tour of Empty Buildings - video and audio

Buy now