I’ve been having a little fun on Facebook over this story about boutiques in DTSF. (Stormland TV deleted my FB comment, but it still remains on my FB page);
LOL. I Often joke with my fellow downtowners that I will soon be opening a women’s boutique DT that has clothing, cupcakes, craft beer bar and fudge shop. Yes, there are too many women’s boutiques DT. More bars and restaurants and entertainment options, your dress shops are wasting valuable space DT, go away.
To tell you the truth, I could care less how many women’s clothing stores are DT. But I also feel that the makeup of DT needs to be tweaked going forward. I like to use Fort Collins, CO as a great example of an amazing DT area. I have visited twice over the past 6 years. I love it. It is very comparable to Sioux Falls because of population and a midwestern feel. While the footprint is bigger, the parking situation, walkability and structures are very similar.
What makes their DT flourish, I believe, is the high concentration of eateries, art galleries and misc, interesting retail.
Fort Collins Downtown Business Members (Breakdown)
Restaurants, Bars, Delis, etc. – 61
Variety, Giftshops, Retail, Jewelry, etc. – 52
Art Galleries – Private & Non Profit – 22
Banks, Real Estate, Law, Insurance, etc. – 30
Medical Clinics, etc. – 13
Business Services, Spas, Etc. – 37
Clothing Stores – 13
Lodging – 2
Funeral Home – 1
Auto Repair and Dealerships – 3
Government related – 12
Churches – 2
(Not on the membership list is dozens of marijuana shops)
Besides the fact they are a brewery haven, have a large college and they have FREE pedicabs, they embrace what brings people DT, especially tourists; unique shops, great food and drink and art galleries. Do you know how many art galleries are DTSF? Approximately four, if you include 8th and Railroad. One of them is the Pavilion, which charges an admission even though it gets government subsidies. One of the stupidest things was for the Pavilion to start charging admission to the VAC.
DTSF needs to start researching and implementing the Ft. Collins model, or we can keep opening dress and cupcake shops.