Lawrenceville isn't the only city with this issue. The cities must first lead by example however and the first step must begin with the cities supporting their own - not outside businesses and business owners!

As a Business Owner On the Square I Love it .. I have always believed that small hometown business and business owners are vital to the success of any city big or small. A locally owned independent business returns approximately 45% of each dollar spent back to the community. Local, independent businesses assist the community through a “multiplier effect”: one dollar spent at a locally owned business will return five times that amount within the community through city taxes, employees’ wages, and purchase of materials and supplies at other independent businesses. In addition, these businesses will turn that dollar back into the community through school funding, social services, and contributions to local non-profit organizations.
It could be said supporting local business lowers taxes -
Eric Reid
Owner Renaissance Realty Group
162 East Crogan Street Suite B ( in Old Downtown Lawrenceville)

I will also comment that the hiring of Lisa Sherman was a step in the right direction.

I agree with what each shop owner said. My family and I try to give some of our business to downtown, but it's getting harder to do. Bringing in different types of businesses will help spark interest. To whoever owns the buildings, just a thought...why don't they give an incentive lease with lower rent in the beginning to bring in new businesses and help them make a profit (have the rent grow as their business grows perhaps). It's better than leaving the shops vacant, which makes people less likely to want to visit L'ville. I think it is a charming town and hopefully it won't completely close to a barren waste.

I try to support local businesses whenever I can. A cupcake here, slice of pizza there, some jewelry or a book or a bottle of wine... Unfortunately, even with me being a shopaholic, I can't fund these businesses on my own. What else can we as Lawrenceville residents do?

Elect right people to the GA House. Those who understand and care about small business. http://www.vote4damon.com/
AND DO BUSINESS LOCALLY!

Gadsden, Alabama revitalized their historic downtown area with low incentive rents, monthly "First Friday" festivals, and decorating store fronts of empty buildings so that it looked fantastic no matter what. Another idea is to sell a local currency like they do at Disney World and Publix at Christmas, ie: "Downtown Dollars" or "Santa Bucks" just to spend with participating merchants. Scavenger hunts, in which you must visit certain stores and submit receipts for a give-away, would also work. At Halloween, children went trick-or-treating at participating businesses and got a little prize if they turned in a card full which indicated a visit to each place on the list. The New Lawrenceville organization is a step in the right direction. Business-to-business networking events at downtown spots should also help.

Well anybody who is able and willing to open a business has not failed if that business should one day close. Opening a business involves long hours and risking ones finances.

Lawrenceville lacks an identity. By that I mean when people say Lawrenceville they don't identify it with anything. We have an award winning theater, a top notch hospital and a growing college all within the city limits, yet many businesses have not found a way to connect with this market. We have the Aurora Theater just off the square yet many merchants feel disconnected from the theater. It doesn't help that the city built a parking deck that connects directly into the theater, which allows most patrons to by pass the local merchants. Even with the theater we only have two merchants on the square who offer first class merchandise from local artists. Why just two? One of the local landlords has lost many of his properties recently and now we have his parking lot being held hostage. It's his parking lot, he can do with it what he wants, but it does leave a black eye on the square.

We've also had some trouble with our marketing of the city which some blame on the Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association (LTTA). Several years ago we had a on the square merchant group which started out with the name "New Lawrenceville". Both the LTTA and New Lawrenceville seem to compete to promote the city.

The city is actively seeking ways to market and improve our downtown. Like other areas around the state and county, Lawrenceville has struggled during this downturn. The city is moving forward with the Lawrenceville Lawn and Heritage Trail projects, which will improve streetscapes, the Luckie Street roadway and provide a recreational space only one block from the historic courthouse. The Crogan Street crosswalk will provide direct access to the parking deck for the eastern side of the square. This should improve the marketability of many of the vacant storefronts in this part of our square. After discussions with shop owners it became clear that the move of the Lawrenceville Farmers Market from the downtown square had a definite effect on Saturday downtown business. The market is being relocated to the lot directly in front of the parking deck facing Crogan Street on the last weekend of July. Our Econ Dev Director is also seeking ideas from other cities to better market and improve the retail draw of the square. Another effort is to refocus our marketing through the LTTA, which is reorganizing to be more effective as well. It is a team effort between the city, building owners, business owners and local residents. We are all stakeholders in having a vibrant downtown. The west & south sides of the square are actually doing quite well with new shops opening and others seeking availability. Other areas are struggling more and we are working to help anyway we can.

A little more investigation would have resulted in a completely different heading and article. Yes, we are sad that ArisTEAcrats recently closed and that Singin Bean, and Little Shop of Arts and Antiques closed a while back.

However, Exhibit Ale, Lovin Florist, Natural Wonders and Rsvp have all opened recently. There is a contract on two of the available spaces you mentioned and a lease pending on another one – all new businesses who believe in themselves as business owners and in the Historic Square as a place to do business. Also, there is a new owner of one of the eye-sore buildings who believes in the Square enough to make expensive repairs and occupy the building. Seven new – three closed. Does not sound like a Ghost Town.

As a commercial realtor I work in several of the surrounding small towns – all of which are going through the same thing as Lawrenceville – small, independent business owners typically do not have deep pockets and when anything happens to slow business (like our economic condition) many find it necessary to close. Also, small, independent business owners are often ill-equipped to operate a business. Business turnover in small, historical towns is, unfortunately, the norm.

Most of the City leaders and business owners in those other small towns would love to have what Historic Lawrenceville has to offer

continued -- Lawrenceville is the County Seat and is strategically located near GJAC, Gwinnett Medical, GA Gwinnett College, Gwinnett Technical College. There is a thriving professional live theatre and ghost tour that bring about 60,000 annually to the Square. There are major events to bring attention and recognition to the City.

We have hard-working leaders who are moving forward with projects that make the Square more accessible and to bring more visitors to the City – which in turn will increase the value of our residential areas. We should hold leaders accountable to do the job we put our faith in them to do, but business owners should not expect government to make their business successful or blame government leadership for their failure.

There is one very good point in the article – local people must support local businesses if they want them to stay in business. So – if you have a shop or restaurant you enjoy – make it your destination!

Support them! With both your dollars and by spreading the word that they exist and encouraging others to support them. Write good articles about the place they decided to put their business -- there are lots of good things going on in Lawrenceville - many, many wonderful people who do good things - great hard-working business owners and leaders. Many good stories to be shared.

I was on the Square yesterday to shop at a unique new store, on that has a "catch" to bring me back. "Exhibit (A)le" is a seller of finely crafted ales, sold in refillable jugs called "growlers." While the business owner is a novice, and will face an uphill climb, I will come back as often as I can. In the same vein as the fantastic Local Republic restaurant, these are destination businesses. I grew up in L'ville and would love to see it be a vibrant area. I now live in Braselton, 20 miles away so it will take just a few more good places to get me there as often as I'd like. The very good to great restaurants and Aurora Theater are a big headstart. Now we just need a few more destination businesses and a little positive publicity (something better than the DUI capital of the free world, which is the current reputation). Some veteran business owners would also help. A tie-in to Georgia Gwinnett College might help also. Right now, L'ville lacks an identity as "a place to be."

It's not just downtown. Look at all the empty storefronts in the strip centers out on Sugarloaf and other corridors. Small businesses are going out of business everyday. Government regulation, favoritism, etc. makes it tough for the 'little guy' to survive.

I never understood a mentality that expects government to save failing business plans. This mentality is not what made America great. As we sit posed on the eve of one of the most monumental events in history - a wonderful feat of treason to combat over-reaching government oppression. I am so thankful for the huge risk taken by bold-minded and forward-thinking individuals. We have devolved from this great experiment in individual freedom with limited necessary governmental intrusion. We now live in a time where government is looked to as the cure for all ills. A failing business is NOT a government problem unless the government has over-regulated or taxed to prevent the business from being profitable. Otherwise, the problem is a business plan issue. It is not the part of of government to market or promote businesses. Why are we looking for this?

Well, Lawrenceville kicked the Briscoe Field enhancement to the curb. That initiative would have created a boom-town for Lawrenceville, but precious few had the vision to see it. Seems like you all got what you wanted when the commissioners voted to deny progress. So, there you have it. How's it working for you?

I truly appreciate the Lawrenceville Patch covering this story. The Singin' Bean was open for 9 years and we saw a pattern of empty store fronts during that time. It really is up to the residents even our local government and those who want to see a change being a part of the solution. I would like to ask any one reading or commenting on this article, Do you SHOP LOCAL? Spend your dollars like Eric suggested above. If you buy local, eat local, and get your entertainment locally by supporting the businesses you want to stay open then it will improve over time. We can't change the nations economy but we can start working as a community and supporting each other. I just truly love Lawrenceville and truly wish the downtown to become the dream it has always longed to be. The square is the center of the county. All roads lead to Lawrenceville literally. Take one of those roads to Lawrenceville and plan to spend an afternoon there. You won't be disappointed. Eat at a local restaurant. Shop for a gift at a local store and catch a play at the Aurora. both Lawrenceville residents and local government alike. Do it more than once in a while. Walmart and Starbucks don't need you as much as the square does. Don't be one of those people saying to yourself. I really liked that place wonder why they closed if you weren't there often they couldn't survive without you.

I closed my shop for a variety of reasons, mostly because I had incurred expenses for my mother and could not afford to keep a shop open, waiting for business to grow, while immediately covering bills for her. I had to make a choice and had a gracious new landlord that worked with me. That said, I started the Gwinnett County Writer's Guild, a book club, and a writer's critique guild. After my shop closed it was difficult to place the groups (which had been meeting in the back of my shop) elsewhere on the square. Niko's and Aristeacrats were a big help. Most places - except for restaurants which were too loud - closed in the evening before my groups met. I tried to secure a venue for a Writer's convention which would have brought attention to the square later this year and could not find one. This is not my first shop, I started in Old Town Lilburn. Both areas are lovely, but there is just not the foot traffic. The square in Lawrenceville is a wonderful place for dinner out and festivals on the courthouse and the Aurora Theater, but I personally feel most people don't go there to shop. Magnolias Antiques has diversified with ice cream and vintage candy and is a lovely antique shop and the new businesses, closer to the restaurants, hopefully are doing well. It is sad that small town America is not treasured as it should be and the masses like to shop the big discount stores.

A P.S. to my comment - Meg at Sparkle! jewelry does a wonderful job of keeping longer hours and promoting her shop and the square. And our critique group still meets on Wednesday nights at Niko's Wine Corner at 7PM. I miss my slice of pizza at Cosmos too.

To those shop owners who have closed: I have visited every one of the stores. As was asked repeatedly in the article, I DO shop local when I can. I love small town Americana. I would rather spend my money in a small, locally-owned business (even if I pay a little bit more) than a big box. Unfortunately, many of the shops do not fit my particular wants or needs (e.g. I will not need a prom dress anytime soon). The shops are great; I do not believe they should ALL appeal to me. I do want downtown Lawrenceville to survive and thrive. I stand by my assertion, however, that the business owners should not look to the local government to market the businesses. The local government can and should market the entire city as a destination. It could even offer tax-incentives to make business location attractive. If the business does not make it - we cannot blame the local government. Why should city revenues, some of which are paid by a nurse, janitor, IT professional, lawyer, etc. be used in furtherance of a business. Business owners must take responsibility for their own business plan to include marketing. So much is spoken about "what is the city doing for my business" or "the LTTA is not marketing for my business". Not their jobs folks.

To the amazing business owners and entrepreneurs who put it on the line - THANK YOU! You are what makes this country great. I wish you all much success and prosperity. I will visit your stores and trade with you when I can.

Edgar, Thank you for shopping local. you are an exception yet not the rule. Of course the government isn't the solution. Yet someone needs to have the squares back. Who markets for the Mall of Georgia. What reason do you have to go shopping anywhere. Why come to Lawrenceville? The merchants are all individuals trying to make it work all alone that's a lot of pressure. Linda Campbell always does a great job marketing for the whole of what Lawrenceville is, but is that her job. Perhaps the new Economic Developer can be reached for listening and really create new ideas to create a sense of community and growth.

Hmmm.... parking and access. Provincialism. Myopia. I've been here several decades and Lawrenceville is just another slow spot in the road. Want to attract people and their money? Think of those things that would attract YOU (hint: not religion, not bail bondsmen, not pawn shops, not finger sandwiches), then make it easy to arrive, park, and exit all while being there with your friends in relative safety. After getting that firmly in your head, visit current L'ville and listen to the firetrucks blasting by, negotiate the traffic which runs stupidly and snakelike. Try to park. See if you find anything there that you might actually enjoy. It ain't rocket surgery, yet for three decades I've seen that little burg struggle, mostly gleaning it's greatest notoriety as the place where Larry Flynt was shot. Get over the small time thinking and Lawrenceville might, no certainties, join the modern world. I'll hold my breath.

This was an interesting article. I'm glad someone brought up the Lawrenceville Farmers Market. At it's peak, the market brought some 750-1,000 people downtown on a Saturday morning. And the majority of these folks stayed downtown and spent money. In our surveys, most of the people who did stay reported that, on average, they spent some $50-$100 with downtown merchants. So I can attest that there was a real, palpable affect that came with the market.

LFM-Continued

While there were several reasons that the market board decided to change locations, one of the most compelling was that the vendors of the market felt like the market was taken for granted. While the market brought in large numbers of people to the square on weekends, it was like pulling teeth to get local businesses to do events at the market. In the 7 plus years of the LFM, only one local restaurant has done any sort of menu sampling based upon local foods sold at the market. Contrast that, for example, with the Norcross Market where there is a local business that not only has embraced the local food movement but has actually developed a menu based upon items at the market and built a take out menu which they sell at the market as a vendor. They do VERY well and the market benefits from a lot of cross marketing opportunities. In all of the years of the market, there has only been one downtown business that has come to us and asked how they can work with the market for a mutual benefit. In my experiences working with markets, a strong collaborative relationship between the market and local businesses are the true foundations of the stronger markets.

I have read all the comments and many make valid points. As co-owner of The LONA Gallery, located on the square for 2+ years, I have seen a number of businesses come and go. I certainly do not expect the city to market my business, I do that. The city does however have a vested interest in supporting business in general and creating an environment that is conducive to the building a strong vibrant community, a place where people want to live, raise families, do business and thrive. Those of us who start businesses in a small downtown area like Lawrenceville, have a particular challenge to overcome, competition with the malls. If you build it (the mall) they will come, it is this huge behemoth that draws people in. As downtown merchants our marketing reach is limited by the type of business we have and by our advertising budget. The city on the other hand has a much wider reach and can support, not a particular business, but the downtown area in general, which as an individual business owner I can only do in a limited way. A huge issue is lack of awareness. I have said to Mayor Jordan and many of my fellow business owners, that not a week goes by that someone does not come into LONA Gallery who has lived in Lawrenceville 5, 10 years or more, who doesn't know that there are shops and restaurants there, doesn't know about the Aurora Theatre, the Moonlight Concert Series and so on.

When I promote my business to customers, I do all I can to promote other merchants and downtown Lawrenceville as well. I would like to see a longterm program/campaign designed to increase awareness about downtown Lawrenceville, which I'd be willing to particiate in. I echo the need to reduce rents to fill the empty shops. The more shops, the more business for all of us. As we create more awareness, downtown merchants must also be willing to be open when customers shop, i.e. late on Fridays, Saturdays and some hours on Sunday. Customers often complain to us in the evenings and Sunday that hardly anyone is open. We need a strong downtown merchants association that will work together to find solutions, we know what the problems are. No one goes into business with the intention of closing their doors. This occurs for a variety of reasons, but the percentage of business successes will definitely increase if we can partner together to create a downtown Lawrenceville that people know about, a downtown that potential customers want to come to and a downtown that delivers an awesome experience. It’s my responsibility, your responsibility and yes, our elected officials responsibility to create the kind of community that is strong and vibrant. If we don’t who will.

For almost 12 years, I have had two shops on Perry Street. During this time, one major problem has continued to exist. Some of the people who work in the restaurants and shops take the parking on the one-way streets. They park there all day. The parking lot behind Perry Street and the parking garage on Crogan have helped a little, but I hear almost daily that it's hard to find a parking spot. Unfortunately, most people do not know about the other parking lots and really only want to go to one shop for a few minutes. If they have to park and walk in inclement weather, they will not do it. Someone needs to monitor the parking on the one-way streets.
When I first opened in Lawrenceville, before the "revitalization," business was great. Almost every shop was filled and active. Shoppers came from out of state to buy in Lawrenceville, because of the types of shops and the variety. This was before the restaurant "boom." People who come to shop, get hungry and will find a restuarant; but people who come to eat, rarely shop.
From the beginning, I tried to promote city shopping. I went to each shop and tried to get them to advertize on a Welcome Center brochure. I had these printed and mailed them to all of the Welcome Centers in Georgia. When the Welcome Centers notified me that they needed more brochures, not enough merchants would participate. It has always been each merchant looks out for themselves and does not want to get involved with anyone else.

Ms. Marcelle's article published in the latest issue of Patch misses several important points and is incomplete in its analysis of the state of Downtown Lawrenceville. As a property owner on the Historic Square (I am one of two managing partners of Honest Alley, LLC, owners of the Honest Alley Exchange, mentioned several times in the article) I find it odd and disconcerting that although owners of a few recently closed business owners were interviewed, not one property owner was. Also, conspicuously missing was any input from the many small business owners that have weathered the economic crisis of the past 5 plus years and have either held their own or succeeded in spite of the economy. Finally, there are several real estate professionals in the area that are, and have been, working very hard to find the right combinations to make this area work. Sadly, Ms. Marcelle did not see fit to speak with them.

It is also not quite fair to label the Historic Square with a "Ghost Town" without applying the same attribute to the many shopping centers outside the downtown. I'm sure Ms. Marcelle has recently visited the huge center at Hwy 316 and Hwy 120 (Cross Creek) or the numerous empty strip centers along Old Norcross Road on Hwy 120. Retail sales have been crushed everywhere...and Lawrenceville
has not been immune. ...CONTINUED...

...CONTINUED...As a result of the downturn in the economy, Downtown Lawrenceville has experienced problems typical of many retail-intensive city centers of its size nationwide and a few of its own. Many small businesses which rode the successes of the early part of the century found that they could not sustain their revenue streams once consumer spending and the real estate market collapsed. This lead to retail vacancies everywhere and loss of employment. Development stopped and many developers, including those in and around Lawrenceville, found that they could no longer support aggressive promotion of their projects and communities.

As a promising consequence of all this many well-intentioned entrepreneurs, some recently unemployed, sought to take advantage of low rental rates to fulfill long-latent ambitions to own their own businesses. Many of these were good ideas, but bad business plans. And so, a few years later, some, not all, of these opportunistic start-ups become unsustainable, and closures result. This is difficult for those who tried, but not entirely unexpected. The more important story, and that which was missed by the author, is that which applauds the successes in Lawrenceville: McCray's, Sparkle, SoJe Emporium, LONA, Local Republic, Nikko's, the Aurora and more.

...CONTINUED...The article touches on, but leaves incomplete, the efforts by property owners and the people of Lawrenceville, and the positive response of the City Government. The "Lawn" project was acknowledged as was the hiring of a new Director of Economic Development, but what about the Heritage Trail, the new Crogan Street pedestrian crossing, the Visitors Center, and new progressive ordinances proposed.

As a group heavily invested in the City, we share the sentiment that supporting local businesses is extraordinarily important. But let's not be self-defeating with incomplete local reporting. Potential new businesses read this stuff...and it is not accurate and not helpful.

Henry Block
Managing Partner
Honest Alley Exchange

I have eaten and purchased goods from downtown Lawrenceville for 30 yrs....back in the days when I worked for Bobby Sikes Sr and others. So the changes have been welcomed over time with newer places to dine and shop at. Parking has always been a big issue but a recent visit to Dominick's may have scared me so deeply it may have been my last visit to the area as a whole....sad to say. Consumers have to have a desire, need or connection to want to spend their money downtown or anywhere and the current finances today sure hurt. Dining has always been a draw to for me and mine which then gives attention to walking and shopping after in a lot of cases. Just my thoughts as a consumer....

I am the owner of Nstyle Boutique located on 289 South Culver Street one street over from "the square". I have been here for 5 months and our street is still a part of downtown Lawrenceville and we do not feel a part of the downtown atmosphere. I relocated from the Sugarloaf area to be a part of a downtown environment and I have marketed and advertised on my end but we get no walk/drive by traffic and most people tell us they had no idea we are here. We carry a beautiful selection of ladies handbags, jewelry, clothing, and unique baby gifts and tutus. I moved here with such high hopes and excitement and I have my customers who followed me from my old location but it takes new customers to make a small business successful.

Aurora Theatre is the best thing going in L'ville. We attend most shows and have dinner off the square. We attended the "ringing of the bells of 1812" on the square recently and went to the museums inside the courthouse. As for a decline in business, there are several factors. First of all, maybe the failed shopkeepers are to blame. Ms. Pitts Gilbert could have offered free iced tea to entice sales rather than turning off customers the way she did. An Athens restaurant gained my patronage that way. So, maybe a big part of the problem has to do with the shopkeepers who folded. Secondly, small businesses have historically had a 90% failure rate anyway in any economy. Thirdly, inclement weather and record heat keep me at home. Stop blaming the public and the government for the failure.