Downtown businesses looking to become citywide draw

By Harry Loomis

As revitalization efforts continue Downtown, retail and restaurant owners are finding it’s not as simple as if you open it, they will come.

The growing number of people who live and work Downtown has helped form a core consumer base.

“When we do date night every weekend, we try our hardest to keep our business Downtown,” said Kayla Schmidt, who lives Downtown. “So we usually we’ll start here, we’ll get Hazel’s, we’ll get a latte in the daytime and we’ll kind of move from there. We spend all of our time and all of our money Downtown on the weekends if we can.”

But while new local options have won the hearts of Downtown residents, they have struggled to leave the same impression on those living and working in other parts of town. This is especially the case for restaurants, prompting efforts to help generate more traffic.

“St. Joseph is working on maps and even some banners to let you know what businesses are,” said Christy George, Downtown liaison. “If it’s a restaurant or if it is a shop and if it’s open, we’re trying to make it as friendly and as easy to come down and shop and eat and just have fun.”

There are several restaurant and bar options Downtown but because some are spread out, it might not be easy to hop from one place to the next. That’s where unique ideas have come into play.

“Honestly, my favorite addition has been the Bird scooters,” said Tyler Schmidt, a Downtown resident. “I think that’s by far the easiest and possibly one of the more fun ways to get around if you’re bar hopping. Obviously, there’s always the pub crawls that they do. They do the Zombie Crawl. Those are good ways to get introduced.”

Parking also has been expressed as a concern Downtown as some lots are open only to workers and residents and on-street spaces are limited. That’s another issue city leaders and businesses have worked to address.

“I do think it is a concern,” said Dee Marriott, owner of Jake’s, Salty Steer and Boudreaux’s. “There’s some measure for some improvement in the parking garages just as far as lighting and some stuff, and especially up in the Boudreaux’s area.”

But while Downtown may not have large lots like those found at malls, accessing businesses there isn’t really more difficult, advocates said.

“If you were to pull into a shop of the North Shoppes, realistically, if you parked in one of our parking garages and walk to one of our shops, it’s about the same distance,” George said.

Downtown businesses are working together to improve the overall shopping and dining experience and draw new consumers to the area.

“What I’ve loved to see as of late is the coordination between the businesses Downtown,” Kayla Schmidt said. “They work together to promote each other and to get more people into the door. That’s something that I’ve been really excited to see.”

Once people do venture Downtown, the goal is for them to find a unique hometown experience that keeps bringing them back and has them spreading the word to their friends, George said.

“Local business owners are chasing their dreams and help building our community and employing our neighbors,” she said. “We hope that you can continue to come Downtown. The money you spend in St. Joseph stays in St. Joseph.”