But business owners are concerned that the city will drag things out, turning away shoppers and putting a further crimp in downtown business. I'm happy to put up the money. But he said he's concerned about how the project will be managed. We don't want to be extraordinarily touristy. One of the things I like about this place is we have a real downtown.
People still visit the hardware store, get a haircut, do some business at city hall and have lunch.
People like that. At Magic Shears salon, barber Lee Cousins said times have been tough for many downtown businesses that have to compete with malls or retail areas like Smokey Point. These small towns, they're up against it. They have to attract people, and having the right recipe is a difficult thing to figure out. Cousins said he believes Arlington needs an identity, but he doesn't want it to become a tourist trap, either.