Wrigley Taproom staff tackles trash in alley, Depot Street parking lots

The Wrigley Taproom in Corbin was closed Monday but Kristin Smith and some of her employees were working to #KeepCorbinClean.

Wrigley Taproom owner Kristin Smith and members of her staff used part of their day off to pick up trash in the alley and parking lots on Depot Street. Smith and her staff have challenged Andy Salmons and the staff at You and Me, Coffee and Tea to do a similar pickup, hoping to create momentum for the effort among downtown businesses.

Smith along with Josh Wren, Nikolah Bishop, Shannon Ferrell, Melissa Bond, and friend Thor Barman III, covered Depot Street, the public parking lots and the neighboring alley spending about an hour picking up a variety of trash.

“We feel fortunate that we have been warmly received by the community,” Smith said when asked why she and her staff elected to participate in the Keep Corbin Clean effort. “We take a lot of pride in being located downtown and saw an opportunity to help the community.”

Smith said along with the normal litter, she and Wren found approximately 100 decorative grapes in one of the parking lots.

“They were everywhere in that parking lot,” Smith said. “Josh and I got into a competition to see who could pick up more of them.”

The other items that were prevalent were cigarette butts, including near the back entrance to her business.

Smith said seeing and picking up all of those butts made her realize how bad of a problem their disposal is.

“It compelled me to make sure we have a proper disposal receptacle,” Smith said. “I hope other businesses will do the same.”

Smith said she and her employees realized they needed to be more cognizant of litter, especially near the restaurant.

“We will take more responsibility for the back alley and try to keep it cleaner,” Smith said.

After conferring with her staff, Smith threw out a challenge to Andy Salmons and the staff at You and Me, Coffee and Tea to do a similar pickup.

“Pass it on and lets start something,” Smith said.