You need more than restaurants and night spots, we need to start having mom and pop service businesses for the incoming residents. We need walk-in banks. They don t want to drive in. Special bakeries, a candy shop that makes its own candy. A flower shop.
Private business follows the crowd.
Approximately 250 units of downtown lofts are being created in old buildings. As they fill, they will spawn a complete new lifestyle for this area, says East. He doubts that the new residents would attract another big bank or another big law firm, but maybe a neighborhood mortgage company or some small law firms. The Alltel Arena will provide minimum-wage jobs for ushers and people selling pop corn and cleaning. Downtown developer Jimmy Moses expects eventually a national grocery and a big name department store will open within walking distance.