FRANKLIN
Business owners are voicing their concerns about the state of affairs in downtown Franklin, fearing an irreversible economic downturn.

“There’s nobody that I can talk to in retail right now that can say, ‘Man, we’re really kicking it,’” said Billy Smith, owner of Smith’s Jeweler on Second Avenue. “We’re basically just treading water.”

Three other business owners in Downtown Franklin echoed Smith’s comments.

“We’re doing badly,” said Gerry Patnesky, owner of Alphabet Soup. “Business is really down. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights worrying about money, and I’m tired of it.”

Smith, whose shop has been located in Downtown Franklin for nearly 57 years, traces the beginning of the economic trouble back to Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

“All the financial people left after the flood,” he said. “After Floyd, [most] of the banks moved out and a lot of people didn’t come back because their businesses were ruined.”

Several business owners suggested that city officials should take more steps to attract tourists.

“After two o’clock, it rolls up around here like a red carpet,” said Vicki Baker, of Kilby’s Florist. “If we don’t get some kind of help we’re going to disappear.”

“Smithfield doesn’t have half of what Franklin has retail-wise,” said G. Cargile, manager of Smith’s jewelers. “It kills me that people go there on Saturdays rather than come to Franklin.

Staci Richard, a salesperson at Alphabet Soup added, “Smithfield makes a big deal of their history and uses it as a draw to bring in tourism. Franklin should do that. It’s not that we don’t have stuff that people want.”

“We have something for everyone here,” Patnesky said.

“We have to develop a festival-like atmosphere that makes people want to come down here. There’s endless possibilities for things like this,” said Smith.

Dan Howe, executive director of the Downtown Franklin Association, acknowledged that his organization is working to revitalize the area by throwing more festivals and parties to draw in foot traffic.

“We have the Cruise-In on Wednesdays, and the Downtown Divas and Guys have their lady’s night every Thursday. And then there’s We Be Jammin’,” he said. “We in downtown are working together as a cluster to help bring in foot traffic and to make downtown more of a destination point. All of these are meant to bring attention to what we have to offer, the different kinds of shops and restaurants we have.”

“We’ve been here since 1957 and we still have people that come in and say, ‘Gosh, I didn’t know that y’all were down here,” said Smith. Baker expressed similar sentiments.

“It’s frustrating,” said Cargile. “We are a full-service store, we can do custom design and repairs, but no one knows that unless they come down here and find us.”

Howe added that the DFA is partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and FSEDI to develop a program titled ‘Leap Forward Franklin’ designed to attract more businesses and restaurants to downtown. It should be finalized and unveiled sometime between this fall and next spring.

“People sometimes talk about competition,” said Howe, “but the more shops and restaurants we have done here, the more vibrant we all become.”

Business owners are inclined to agree.

“We need to fill the empty storefronts. As a stranger, walking around downtown, it looks like a ghost town,” said Cargile.

The DFA will host a Business Spotlight on Tuesday, July 21, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. to help bring attention the variety of shops in downtown.