As someone who lives downtown I often feel guilty that I can’t continue to buy enough stuff at the downtown retail stores to keep them open. We bought as much as we could afford at Devolve and it didn’t help. These stores will have to depend on people other than downtown residents alone, especially if we manage to get some affordable housing in the walkable area. People visiting for other reasons and staying in hotels are much more likely to spend lots of money in the local stores downtown than the residents, try as we may. Also, if we get enough stores (and I think we’re getting close), then we can attract shoppers from surrounding suburban areas as well.
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This is exactly why we need more permanent tourist attractions downtown - the increasing frequency of conventions and other day/weekend events at the Convention Center along with all the weekend festivals are great, but not what I’m talking about. In addition to the museums and art galleries, we need more destinations - an indoor botanical garden/aquarium, an interactive art experience gallery (a la Meow Wolf in New Mexico), indoor rock climbing facility, etc etc - these are just my ideas, but more permanent tourist attractions located within walking distance in downtown proper- in addition to all the great dining, events, music, and festivals- are what we need to more consistently have out-of-towner foot traffic spending lots of $$$ any given day of the week.
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I did that for Devolve too. I bought like $400 in clothes one day and figured that’d help 'em get through that month. I’m a little worried about Apex Outfitters right now.
Anyway I think there are two keys. First, residents and second, solid retail configured strips. Relying on visitors feels like giving up and our retail spaces are scattered much too far apart and have no critical mass except near Harget’s 100 blocks. That’s what happens when all the historic store fronts get torn down…a downtown office park. Digging back out of that is taking a generation, and might take a second here so large was the damage to fabric.
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It doesn’t help that retail is harder business nowadays too. Amazon and all that.
I also think it would help if the stores downtown didn’t sell a bunch of expensive things. Maybe I’m wrong about the pricepoint, but it’s definitely what I’ve seen on most of the places I’ve been to.
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I totally agree with that. While some others didn’t like to see the DGX store go in downtown, I was applauding it. Cities need more than expensive Knickknack stores and luxury brands. I’m hopeful that Smoky Hollow will bring a collection of useful retail stores that will actually cater to the residents and hotel guests alike.
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What retail is downtown? Is there anything worth strictly going to downtown for? I have been downtown for museums, shows, and food and events. Never to go shopping. Never even stepped in a retail store downtown. What does downtown offer for retail that is not available anywhere else?
Most likely, downtown needs the downtown residence to support downtown retail and based on discussions here, seems like we are not there. Need more residential towers then retail will come, and survive.
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Deco is worth a trip downtown. By far the best store in my opinion
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Showing my age, but I used to love to go shopping and then lunch at Hudson Belk…sigh…
Fond memories. But I would love to add new memories with more shopping option. Eat, drink, shop and people watch…Lol 
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Deco, Art of Style, Quercus, Port of Raleigh, Gypsie Jule, Eldewine, Raleigh Denim, Mahler Gallery, Flourish, Short Walk Wines … I think there are more that I’m not remembering on the top of my head. And YES… independently owned and operated shops are very worth supporting and much more fun to support than mall stores!!!
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I also find it a little awkward tho, because I feel like I’m usually the only customer and it’s like OMG hey, hi, do you want to buy something and make me not fail at my lifelong dream of owning this store?! And then I’m like…oh, $45 knickknacks, um, sorry…awkward shuffle away. 
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lol, that was what I was going to post @RobertSanderlin The last time I destination shopped in downtown was to hit Hudson Belks. The bargin basement then up for a snack in the Capitol Room or more likely over to Mecca for a late lunch.
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Smoky Hollow is soon to say, “hold my beer”.
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I just received a email from Commissioner Vickie Adamson concerning a future 400 to 500 room downtown hotel . The County as a incentive , is going to build a parking deck on land beside The
Red Hat Theater , using Interlocal Funds & the hotel will be where the Amphitheater is currently
located .
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I would have figured that Block 169 where the North Carolina Association of Educators is located would have been a better choice. If there is a spot that screams for re-use, especially a large convention hotel, it would be there. It would be a safer walk to the convention center and also feed into the Duke Energy Center.
The Red Hat Amphitheater block is bounded on either side by major travel arteries. Granted there would be below grade access into the current convention center, there would still likely be more than a fair share of pedestrians trying to cross mid-block. And, it runs counter to the whole idea of the amphitheater site being a placeholder for future convention center expansion.
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Yeah all good places. Also Father and Son, Retro Modern Furnishings, Dogwood Country Club (like Ealdwine) , Briggs and House of Swank and the Flourish Market (which just moved from Tucker St to Martin).
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Interlocal funds denied for a downtown stadium but given to bulldoze a downtown amphitheater. Seems about right.
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I agree the price point went immediately to the high end. When the GCF left I was very sad. I was also sad when Father & Sons realized its junk shop appealed to people with money in the mid 90’s. Couches that might have been $200 went to like $700 in a very shot period.
Huh??? I thought that block was for expansion of the convention center, not a hotel. Maybe it could be both? That’s very confusing to me.
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So good bye Bluegrass Festival.
We can’t have an amphitheater downtown because it won’t mathematically prove to pay for itself. 
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