The Main Street Alabama survey had 981 respondents, which presenter Jay Schlinsog said during his presentation at the Magnolia Room was easily the most of any survey conducted by the group, which focuses on downtown development.
The Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority obtained the survey free as a member of Main Street Alabama.
Schlinsog said the market of customers who live within 20 minutes of downtown Decatur is stable and has a 4 percent growth potential in the next five years, exceeding state growth.
“Downtown Decatur is a retail hub,” said Schlinsog, owner and managing principal of Downtown Professionals Network, of Franklin, Tennessee.
Ellis Chenault, owner of a downtown photography business, said the report wasn’t surprising.
“We know what we need to do to implement his suggestions,” Chenault said. “A lot of people need to just get out of the way of progress. They’re too conservative sometimes.”
For example, Schlinsog said, the respondents showed a great interest in living downtown, but Chenault said the city has been an obstacle in letting lofts develop because regulations are too restrictive.
“I know one person who wanted to develop a loft apartment, but they said he had to take out a wall to widen the hall for a wheelchair even though a wheelchair couldn’t get up the stairs,” Chenault said.
Schlinsog said the downtown area is particularly strong in florists, grocery stores and used merchandise stores. The area is losing business in electronics and appliances and specialty food services to other cities because its businesses don’t fulfill these needs.
The survey showed 100 percent of respondents think downtown Decatur’s top retail need is a beer, wine and liquor sales store. Other top needs are shoe retailers and a books and music store.
Schlinsog said people want shops selling coffee, deli foods, sweets, ice cream, clothing and clothing accessories.
“They’re not looking for more full-menu, sit-down restaurants,” Schlinsog said.
He said the ideas aren’t just for new businesses. An existing business could add these products to boost results.
Following the desire for restaurants and entertainment, the respondents said they love special events such as 3rd Friday and Mardi Gras.
“You do it so well, they want more,” Schlinsog said.
He said they also want more entertainment at the Princess Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Mary Reed, a committee member of the new River Clay Festival that’s scheduled for the fourth weekend in September, said it’s “really heartening” to hear people want more special events.
Schlinsog said Decatur has made progress in creating an arts economy with construction of the Alabama Center for the Arts, the Carnegie Center for the Visual Arts and Princess Theatre.
He said the next step is incorporating more art into the downtown streetscape that would create more of a connection between Bank and Second streets.
Reed is an artist who rents a spot at Local Color at the corner of Bank and Vine streets. She said she would like to see Bank Street build on this connection with the arts while Second Avenue focuses on its boutiques, food and entertainment.
“I see a lot of potential on Bank Street,” she said.
Schlinsog said 49 percent of the respondents run errands in downtown Decatur and 31 percent eat, drink and enjoy the entertainment in the area.
“Running errands and working in downtown offices support the city’s downtown businesses,” he said.
Only 10 percent said they shop daily in the downtown area, but Schlinsog said, “This isn’t a disappointing number considering the nature of the (downtown) businesses. Most of the businesses don’t cater to everyday needs. They offer an experience that’s different from the big box stores.”
Schlinsog said the 66 businesses who participated in the survey said downtown parking is the No. 1 problem, but most consumers said it’s not.
“I’ve been in Decatur four or five times, and downtown parking is not a problem,” Schlinsog said. “I think the survey shows the customers are willing to walk. Businesses should be careful about making parking an issue because their customers will start to think it is a problem.”
Bayne Hughes can be reached at 256-340-2432 or bayne.hughes@decaturdaily.com. Follow on Twitter @DD_BayneHughes.
