Merchants and tourists say they see more bustle and vibrancy in Tucson's urban chore.Downtown Tucson is slowly developing into a destination for visitors and businesses, including those who want to provide entertainment or culinary options in the neighborhood.
One of the restaurants that recently opened downtown is Empire Pizza and Sub. It's on Congress Street just west of 6th Avenue, and general manager Jon Harrington says it's been quite a hit for the downtown business crowd and others. It is especially gratifying for Harrington because he recalls a very different version of the area.
"It’s nice to see life coming back here. You know, I’m a native and it was kind of deserted for a while, but there’s definitely been a lot happening in the last year and it’s nice to be a part of it," says Harrington.
Beth Dell is another entrepreneur happy to be in the neighborhood. Dell runs the Beowulf Alley Theatre Company, which moved to its present location in 2004.
“We have a whole new façade and this has been the best thing that happened to us," says Dell. "We see so much more traffic anyway because of the development and the revitalization of downtown, pedestrians day and night. It’s really thrilling to see such change and I’ve been here now for seven years.”
But while things are looking up for many people in Tucson's core, Dell and Harrington agree the transformation is a work in progress. Dell says one issue that concerns merchants and their needs is cleaning up graffiti and alleyways.
"A clean city is a place where people want to come and congregate," she says, "and we want families to come and congregate and be a part of this downtown."
She says it's up to residents, businesses and community leaders to cooperate to create a positive outcome.
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