[Editor's Note: During the past few decades, cities across Indiana have experienced an exodus of commercial businesses from their downtown area. The Kokomo Tribune is looking at how four Indiana cities are attempting to revitalize their downtown to attract retail businesses.The final installment is on Kokomo. In recent weeks the series looked at the downtown areas in Marion, Noblesville and Anderson.]
For almost three decades John Rosborough has seen the ebb and flow of small businesses around Kokomo's courthouse square. Now he believes a renaissance is taking place.
Rosborough, owner of the Sound of Music on Walnut Street, sees the downtown area coming back, and says the changes over the past few years have been wonderful.
Both the city of Kokomo and Howard County have invested money in sprucing up downtown and provided incentives for business to locate in the heart of the city.
Howard County offers a $5,000 grant to new businesses; 21 have been given out since the start of the program. Kokomo has a revolving loan fund and façade program aimed at helping downtown development.
The next big change will begin Monday when a ground-breaking ceremony will mark the start of construction on a four-story parking garage. That will lay the foundation for construction of a new $15-million YMCA.
Rosborough said the First Friday events are a big plus for downtown businesses. “It’s just wonderful to see that people are still investing in Kokomo,” he said. “It’s exciting and the future is very bright.”
The Sound of Music attracts people from around the state and doesn’t rely on the local music scene, he said.
“People from all over Indiana comment on how easy it is to get downtown,” Rosborough said. “They also comment on how beautiful the downtown is with a lot of flowers. There is a homey feel.”
He said local officials are trying to get on the same page in promoting the downtown.
“We’re coming back strong, baby,” Rosborough said with a laugh and smile.
Not all businesses have the staying power of Sound of Music. Angie Meyers operated a design studio in downtown Kokomo for three years, but recently closed.
“I had lived in Chicago and liked the feel of the neighborhoods,” she said. “I didn’t know where else to open a store to get that feeling.”
Meyers said the decision to close was a combination of the stress of operating a storefront, finances and overhead.
“It was time consuming,” she said. “I didn’t have the time to work on creating costume jewelry. If I ever opened another store, it would be downtown.”
Meyers said the $5,000 grant she received from Howard County helped during the first year.
Tashia Johnson-St. Clair recently closed the Sweet Poppins store on Sycamore Street and is concentrating on Internet sales and fundraisers for her popcorn business.
“I thought with all that was being done and the revitalized downtown there would be a lot of foot traffic,” she said. “There was just not enough local support.”
Johnson-St. Clair said the city did all it could to help her business.She said just before closing the store a woman came in who worked down the street and had been unaware of the business.
“I was hoping people would come to the store from the downtown area,” Johnson-St. Clair said. “I wouldn’t do another retail store. If I did, it would be in Indianapolis.”
Mary Stully was recently sitting outside the Main Street Café drinking coffee and working on the Internet.
“I live pretty close, so I enjoy walking downtown and that the trails have opened up,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of retail outlets pop up. I’m always surprised to learn about more than I thought were here.”
Stully said the landscaping makes the downtown more attractive. She likes the Farmer’s Market and the fact stores are open late on First Friday.
“Downtown looks really nice,” she said. “Kokomo is right on track with what other cities are doing.”
Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said the focus of his administration, now in its sixth year, has been on the entire community, but he is pleased with the investment in the downtown area.
“When people see investment in downtown, people notice it more because there was no major investment in the downtown area,” he said. “Downtowns are historically considered public spaces.”
Goodnight said in addition to enticing new retail businesses, there has been investment in additional housing in the area.
“I’m pleased with what is taking place in downtown,” he said. “I always felt there were a lot of opportunities for our community.”
Goodnight said five or six years ago developers from around the state wouldn't consider Kokomo a viable investment. He said now they’re knocking at the door.With the new parking garage, YMCA, possible relocation of the Automotive Museum and discussions of a hotel and convention center, Goodnight said Kokomo is working to cluster its assets in a central location.
Commissioner Paul Wyman said county officials knew some start-up businesses wouldn’t survive, even with the grant money. He noted most are still operating.
“This has been the best program we implemented,” he said. “The city and county received an award from Main Street Indiana last year because of the incentives being offered.”
Wyman said funding for the program is included in the 2014 budget proposal. He hopes the next step is to begin renovating second floor space around the courthouse square for additional business and residential use. After being located in the Kokomo Mall, Marcie Senske moved her Planet Mind store to downtown.
“In the mall there were a lot of empty businesses around us and people couldn’t see our business from the outside,” she said. “There were a lot of reasons for the move. There was a good rent incentive to come downtown, more space and a better atmosphere to work in.
“We could tell a lot was taking place in downtown,” Senske said. “There were investments being made in downtown. More businesses in the area help us, increases foot traffic. We’ve seen a lot of businesses come into downtown. I love it.”
Senske said downtown Kokomo is becoming more of a destination for shopping, which fits her clientele. “First Friday is fabulous for us,” she said. “I also like the brainstorming sessions among the business owners. We had no idea the downtown would explode like it did.”
Carol Roe and her partners recently moved the Sycamore Cottage to downtown after trying locations in the two malls and another storefront.
“We debated it for a year, almost did it a year ago,” she said. “Sales were so bad where we were at before.”
Roe said a rent abatement made it easier to give it a try for a year.
“We were going to have to close where we were at,” she said. “The grant money pays half the rent. It was a key to the decision.”
Roe said she believes the downtown area is coming back and has noticed increased foot traffic.
P.J. Bowlin, owner of Goblin Games, which specializes in strategy games, said the county grant program was a great help for his start-up business.
Bowlin said the business attracts people from the region who come to the store for a specific purpose.
“First Friday is great for us, lot of foot traffic,” he said. “We lost a little when Haynes-Apperson moved out of the downtown. I would like to see festivals move back in the downtown area. They gave us a lot of exposure.”