Downtown retail sector lags in redevelopment

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Springfield's vision of interwoven mixed-use development in center city has stalled with the recent exit of some downtown retail businesses. |ret||ret||tab|

Springfield Coffee Company, Market Square and Jerry's Antiques all closed within 10 days of each other last month, creating vacancies in an area striving toward rejuvenation.|ret||ret||tab|

"That hurts downtown," said artist Scott Hepper, who operated Springfield Coffee Company at 215 W. Olive St. for more than three years. He closed shop May 15 to focus on his artwork.|ret||ret||tab|

What hurt Market Square patrons was the lack of parking downtown, said the gift shop's former co-owner Margie Phipps.|ret||ret||tab|

"Something's got to be done with the parking," Phipps said. "I think that's one disadvantage" for downtown retail stores. |ret||ret||tab|

That lack of customer traffic was enough to cause the store to close, she said.|ret||ret||tab|

Market Square was located in the first floor of the Holland building, owned by Allen and Mary Lou Casey. Phipps and Mary Lou Casey opened Market Square in November 2001 and closed it May 17.|ret||ret||tab|

Jerry Lawrence closed his antique shop located at 309 South Ave. May 25.|ret||ret||tab|

Retail lags|ret||ret||tab|

While residential and dining redevelopment efforts have made strides in center city, retail outlets seem to be lagging behind.|ret||ret||tab|

There are now more than 50 loft apartments downtown, many of which have waiting lists for renters, said Bill Compere, executive director of the center city-focused Urban Districts Alliance.|ret||ret||tab|

City officials hope that such development can spur more retail ventures. |ret||ret||tab|

"That's the focus on the downtown area mixed uses," said Fred May, director of Planning and Development. "You really do need to have people living in the area but if you don't have any activity there, then you're not going to have people that want to live there. They all have to really work together."|ret||ret||tab|

"Generally, restaurants seem to be doing pretty good, and the nightclubs are pretty active," Compere added. "I think it's more of a struggle for retail, because most of them aren't a destination point. We just generally need more people here."|ret||ret||tab|

The larger, better-known retailers in the area, such as Wheeler's Furniture Downtown and A&B Cycle are the exceptions because they are destinations, he said. |ret||ret||tab|

And both have the advantage of history on their side. The two stores have each been in business for more than 70 years, and many customers shop there on tradition alone, both owners said.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've never had a problem with having people come downtown," said Rich Howell, owner of A&B Cycle. In fact, the majority of his customers come from south Springfield, which has caused him to consider a south-side location. |ret||ret||tab|

Wheeler's owner Dick Bennett is a step ahead of Howell and already has purchased a south Springfield building, at 3861 South Ave., to enhance his furniture selection. The second location, a 15,000-square-foot, design-oriented store, will open in mid-August. |ret||ret||tab|

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The right business plan|ret||ret||tab|

For some small businesses, making it in center city can be a tough task.|ret||ret||tab|

Howell questions the business plans of many of the failed downtown retailers.|ret||ret||tab|

"Looking at some (businesses) that have come into an environment that already has pretty significant competition, you have to ask yourself, Did you really look at a business plan? Did you really do your marketing research?' Any of the failings that have happened downtown haven't been a result of them being downtown, I think it's been poor business planning," Howell said. "I would say that the businesses that do thrive downtown have obviously proven themselves to be a destination."|ret||ret||tab|

Bennett agrees that the type of product offered is a key factor in the success of a downtown retail outlet.|ret||ret||tab|

"If you've got the right product, they will come where you are," he said. "Furniture is a big enough purchase that (customers) will come downtown for furniture. This building and location has been good for us."|ret||ret||tab|

And as retail destinations, both owners echoed Phipps on the crucial role of parking. A&B Cycle and Wheeler's Furniture have customer parking lots on site.|ret||ret||tab|

Phipps, too, has onsite parking for her Sara's Country Keepsakes customers at 621 S. Pickwick Ave.|ret||ret||tab|

"I could not keep this store going if I didn't have parking right in front of the door," she said. "That's just the kind of people we are now."|ret||ret||tab|

A parking lot is located behind the Holland Building, but it is rented by office tenants, she said.|ret||ret||tab|

Further difficulties arise in financing small retail shops.|ret||ret||tab|

"Another issue is that they have to have some pretty strong financing to weather the ups and downs of retail," Compere said.|ret||ret||tab|

Phipps agreed. "Retail is so different. It's a whole different ball game and you've got to invest a lot of money because you've got to have the merchandise there."|ret||ret||tab|

Howell said it all goes back to the business plan and the ability to become a downtown destination.|ret||ret||tab|

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Making it happen|ret||ret||tab|

Other retail activity downtown involves ownership changes at two stores that opened last fall.|ret||ret||tab|

Shavonne Downey and fiance Miles Hamilton bought out Jennifer Price's partial ownership of The Stock Exchange Trading Company, 326 S. Campbell Ave., on May 1.|ret||ret||tab|

Downey and Price opened The Stock Exchange - a clothing resale and trade-in store - a week after Market Square opened.|ret||ret||tab|

Price also has part ownership of South Avenue Pizza Company.|ret||ret||tab|

Fine Tastes changed hands June 4, as Jim and Dana Kessack sold the tobacco and cigar shop at 320 E. Walnut St. to Chris Kampa. Kampa's plans include the addition of package liquor sales by September.|ret||ret||tab|

Both business owners said a mix of walk-in customers and repeat clients are keeping business going.|ret||ret||tab|

"We're getting a really positive response and good foot traffic down here," Downey said. She added that more retail businesses downtown would help all of the existing ones.|ret||ret||tab|

"(Downtown is) just kind of slowly developing and as more businesses come in, I think, that could only be beneficial to us."|ret||ret||tab|

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Filling the holes|ret||ret||tab|

The vacancy at 309 South Ave. left by Jerry's Antiques' closing might not be for long, said leasing agent Jerry Redfearn of CJR Commercial.|ret||ret||tab|

Owner Jerry Lawrence is selling the two-story, 19,684-square-foot building for $445,000.|ret||ret||tab|

"There's been a ton of interest in it" Redfearn said, mostly in the retail sector. But no tenant has signed yet.|ret||ret||tab|

Allen Casey also is looking to fill the vacancy left by Market Square with another retail tenant.|ret||ret||tab|

"I would definitely like to see some retail" in the first floor of the Holland Building again, he said. He has turned down some office tenants because ideally, Casey would like to lease half of the space to a retail store and half to a restaurant that could utilize a sidewalk cafe. |ret||ret||tab|

All but 800 square feet of the building's remaining space is leased to office tenants, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

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