Colorado Springs, Colo. (KKTV) – After 40 years in the center of the city of Colorado Springs, a local owned business is growing in the north.
Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. It is a local owned branch of a shoe shop chain, operated by Ryan Prickett, store management partner. He said he wanted to operate in the area in the center of the resource town, enjoying the culture of local buyers and business owners.
But since Pandemia Covid-19 five years ago, Prickett said his business is trying to jump again.
“We feel like there have been issues here that we just can’t overcome that maybe a new place will help,” Prickett said before. On Tuesday, he doubled, explaining those deeper reasons.
“The issues that have been an issue for a long time that is simply continuing to be … parking, the homeless are a major obstacle,” Prockett explained. “We have a right kind in the middle of the place where they sit and sleep and do all the things they do downtown.”
He said that from Covid, buyers have chosen cheaper prices and greater convenience. He said local -owned businesses should keep their prices slightly higher, but also that parking and homeless issues create a more inappropriate purchase experience, bringing people to larger chains than in local stores.
“I don’t want people to think we have hated downtown, we loved it down here,” he said. “But we’ve had a harsh years not jumping back and unfortunately it’s just time for us to go on and try to go on … I would better move than close.”
Recently, Prickett said he was closed with a new rent near the Academy and Vickers, near Woodley’s beautiful furniture.
He said he is hoping to be there until the end of the summer, starting a new era for his business, and we hope he addresses those issues he said he has kept his store again.
Other businesses in the city area have mentioned similar concerns. Last year, the owners of the city downtown, one of the oldest cafes in the city, quoted Covid as a reason to close their business and retire. And near Acacia Park, some other businesses have said earlier that they often see people who experience homelessness near their entrances, sometimes disrupting businesses and threatening customers.
Carrie Simison, director of marketing and communication for downtown partnership, said addressing these concerns has been a key goal of her organization.
“So while you will always have such issues in any urban area, we are really working with the city, and the city is working with missions and other nonprofits to try and get help for people,” Simison said.
At the end of last year, Simison said the city launched a new program to find people who can use extra mental health aid and lead them to the necessary resources. From the beginning, she said they have identified at least 17 people to help.
“We want everyone to know they are welcome here, but not all kinds of behavior are, of course,” she said.
Simison also emphasized what parking options are available, especially emphasizing parking garages for those who are ready and capable of walking a little more.
“And it’s one thing we proud of here is a square mile in the city center, with more than 6,000 parking spots,” Simison said.
She also said that the next project of revitalizing the Tayon road is likely to provide an incentive for the area after it has been done. But she said she knows some of the difficulties businesses have gone through; However, she said she is optimistic about the situation of the area and the future.
But Prickett said, even with the issue addressed, it will still be present.
“I think it’s good that they have a program and that they are trying to do things better, for me, it will still be here,” he said. “I get it. There are people and they have to take care of, but it’s also an obstacle for people to come to the store and do what they want to do downtown.”
However, Simison said she expects to see improvement. She said many businesses have been opened recently, showing a common optimism for other business owners.
Beyond the road from Prickett, Solar Roast Cafe, who recently had to close due to a fire next door, worked to rebuild.
Michael Hertkop, the owner, said they were already closed in front of the fire. However, he said he is committed to seeing Simison’s vision for the future.
“We are hoping we can bring this corner back to life, it has been really sad to see a little bit from the circle,” Hertkop said. “I hope some of these buildings are filled. Really really something else to see things close and not come back, so I hope more stores open.”
Hertkop said he expects to return to the end of March, hoping that he contributes to the revitalization of a street corner that has seen difficulties in the past two years.
And, although it will be all over the city, Prickett said he will still support his former Fijins soon, and the local economy as a whole.
“I hope everyone is successful,” he said. “Hope it’s flowering, I hope it’s a good place for people to buy and people go out and go to stores.”
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