Main Street concern: parking, vacancies

Shop local.

It is a simple concept that makes a big impact. However, in tough economic times, local businesses take a hit and are often forced to close their doors permanently. This has been the case for some area businesses, leaving empty storefronts in a once thriving downtown Morton.  

“We do have some vacancies, but we also have some new retailers opening soon that we’re very excited about,” said Jennifer Daly, CEO of the Morton Economic Development Council.

Those retailers include the newly opened Lulu’s, a boutique shop that fills the vacancy left by Morton Pottery, and Maxine’s, which will soon open where The Mustard Seed was once located, filling a void of two years.

Daly said the attempt to draw retailers and patrons to the business district is a collaborative effort, which includes Morton EDC, the Morton Tourism Association and the Morton Chamber of Commerce.

 “It’s so important to get traffic downtown,” Daly said. “The Tourism Association plans a variety of events in the area, the chamber does the Pumpkin Festival and the Business Promotions Committee is launching an ‘I Shop Morton’ ad campaign to encourage people to shop in Morton.”

Plans to spruce up the area will also attract people to the business district.

 An increase in sales tax from 6.75 percent to 7 percent beginning July 1, will bring added funds into the area, helping business owners make physical improvements to building facades.

 “We’ll begin seeing the first checks from the state in October,” Daly said.

 Currently the empty building sitting at 316 S. Main, that was once home to Hissy Fits is the largest vacant property in the business district. Daly said there are continuous prospects for the building, but nothing to announce quite yet.

A lack of visible parking is another detail that may detract from the business district.

 “We definitely have businesses that feel that parking is an issue,” Daly said. “Traditionally in downtown areas, parking is hidden behind buildings and the stores come up to the street.”

 To amend the issue, Daly said areas are being sought where more parking could be created. Signage will also be added to direct patrons to parking lots that are difficult to find.

“We want to make it very easy for people to find parking,” Daly said.

With more than 100 businesses in the business district, added parking, signage and strategic advertising could draw many to the area and offset a struggling economy.

 “What we’re hearing is that the economy has certainly hurt (local business) as it has most business,” Daly said. “People, nationally, are spending less on going out to eat and at specialty shops.”

Some businesses in the district have shown growth despite poor economic conditions.  

“Our business has been doing very well,” said Jenna Grimm, owner of Grimms Inc.

She added that Grimms Inc. is not your typical downtown shop that only serves those who enter the store. The majority of Grimm’s business comes from in-house screen print and embroidery projects contracted for large companies. However, Grimm said she has noticed an increase in foot traffic in her store and on Main Street.

 “It’s definitely picked up since the weather’s been nice,” she said.

 Grimm added that she has already noticed an increase in general shopping than in the past few years. She added it seems more people are parking where they find space and walking the street “just shopping” as opposed to heading into a store to pick up one item.

 Parking has not been much of an issue for the business located at 140 S. Main.

 “We’re right in the middle of the block, so we’re OK, but the businesses on the corners don’t have much parking,” Grimm said. “The parking is hard to find. If you’re not from Morton, you probably don’t even know it’s there.”

 Grimm said she feels the empty shops “hurts our mentality of Morton.”

 “When people drive by and see empty shops, they don’t stay and shop,” she said.