Heart of city lacks student attention over past few years
Downtown Mount Pleasant is not the most popular spot in town.
With more businesses opening along Mission Street, downtown is not getting the economic attention it once had.
But officials said they still view the area as an asset to the city.
“Downtown Mount Pleasant certainly isn’t the economic heart (of Mount Pleasant), but it is the cultural heart,” said Michelle Sponseller, downtown development director for the city.
Several new businesses recently have been approved for other parts of the city, including a new bar, a Starbuck’s Coffee and a Qdoba restaurant.
Construction of the Union Commons Retail Project is ongoing as well. The strip mall on Bluegrass Road will include a Sam’s Club, Menard’s, Super Wal-Mart and Kohl’s, the latter of which is set to open within a week.
The downtown area, which runs along Broadway Street on the northern side of town, has many different specialty shops, restaurants and bars and other agencies.
Still, some business owners said they like the downtown atmosphere best.
“I purposely moved (my business) to downtown Mount Pleasant,” said Michelle Ludwig, who’s owned Simply Engraving, 118 E. Broadway St., since 2004. “I like it here. It’s very friendly.”
Downtown is a great place, said Rosemary Gray, owner of Gray’s Furniture, Appliance, and TV, 222 E. Broadway St.
“It (downtown) has a lot of hidden secrets. People would be surprised to see what we have to offer,” Gray said.
Other owners, however, have noticed students have long since abandoned businesses downtown.
“The kids discovered it (downtown Mount Pleasant) more 19 years ago,” said Marty Naumes, owner of Marty’s Bar, 123 S. Main St., for almost 19 years. “Nine to 10 years ago, the students began coming less often.”
Even with its close-knit atmosphere, downtown is not bringing as many residents as before.
City officials said they hope to change that with a variety of events in the coming months.
CMU’s Homecoming Parade will go down Broadway Street in October.
Other events include “Girls Night Out,” an evening for women to go downtown and shop during the opening of hunting season and the Dickens Christmas events, starting on Dec. 1.
“We have some great places to attend,” said Mayor Cynthia Bradley-Kilmer.
The city also hopes the West Broadway Revitalization Project — a project that will renovate the Borden Creamery building, 320 W. Broadway St., as well as house the new city hall and be the site of the downtown’s first condominiums — will add to the downtown culture.
“The best way for the downtown to make money is for more specialty shops and have more entertainment,” Bradley-Kilmer said.
One of the reasons for the slow downtown business traffic is the location, students said.
“Downtown Mount Pleasant is so far from campus,” said Bay Port senior Brenda Gaeth. “Without a car, you don’t know what’s going on.”
Others blamed the downtown’s decline on the lack of businesses appealing to students and on advertising.
“I think they could advertise what’s going on down here better,” said Plymouth sophomore Elyshia Menkin.
Grand Ledge senior Tyler Wilton agreed.
“I like the downtown, but they should have more things geared towards the students,” he said.
Sponseller said the city is always open to new thoughts.
“The downtown is the place traditional residents meet Central students. We’re always open to hearing ideas from CMU students,” she said.
