HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The effort to revitalize downtown Huntsville has had city leaders looking at unexpected places.
What is normally a holding place for furniture and long-forgotten decorations could become the next retail hub of downtown.
“This used to be the retail center of Huntsville right here, but now there’s very little retail downtown,” said David Johnston, owner of Downtown Storage, on the corner of Clinton Avenue and Jefferson Street.
The space has served downtown businesses and residents for the past 15 years. Before that it was a furniture store for 75 years, and a farm supply store before that.
Through a partnership between Johnston, Downtown Huntsville, Inc., and the UAHuntsville College of Business, the Clinton Row Project means to bring the space back to its retail roots.
“We have some great restaurants some great bars, but we needed some place to buy things,” said Chad Emerson, CEO of Downtown Huntsville, Inc.
Downtown Huntsville, Inc. has leased out six storage units, to in turn rent to vendors.
“Artistic people can come down and rent these units, open the doors and display their work to the passing world out here,” said Johnston. “So we hope if it’s the right mix of people and art it can catch on and reactivate retail downtown.”
The vendors will be able to paint the walls and floors of their 10-by-10 spaces, that they will rent for a year.
What Emerson and Johnston call ‘incubator’ shops, will serve as a starter home for small businesses.
“The goal is that during those twelve months if they determine if they’re successful and the market is good for them, they’ll find a permanent location,” said Emerson.
Downtown Huntsville, Inc. has signed a lease for 6 units, they hope to expand to 15.
The grand opening is March 1st, with soft openings throughout February.
Nuclear Mike
Only if these possible retail spaces will stay open till the bars close…
Nuclear Mike
…there are NO retail ‘drivers’ in Downtown to draw retail shoppers back so this has to follow the bars’ hours to even come close to ever succeeding…
Skillpot
Why keep trying to revitalize downtown Huntsville? There will be no places for the people to park, much less the congestion created by the traffic trying to get around! Turn the efforts to south Huntsville, or Governors Drive west, or on the North Pkwy, where there are so many empty buildings, but, available parking!
Nuclear Mike
Downtown Inc. has to justify the monies being spent for the downtown property owners to recover their investments…the rents are already being raised in Downtown where people are beginning to move out again…
FreedomRider
You are clueless and clearly just making things up.
Virginia Roberts
Agree with person on downtown Huntsville. Barking not convenient or adequate.
Why keep trying to revitalize downtown Huntsville? There will be no places for the people to park, much less the congestion created by the traffic trying to get around! Turn the efforts to south Huntsville, or Governors Drive west, or on the North Pkwy, where there are so many empty buildings, but, available parking!