BY MIKE HELENTHAL
DANVILLE — Another day, another grand opening.
The newest downtown Danville store, Kid’s Kloset, officially opened Monday, bringing the total number of retail storefronts filled in the past six months to four — and counting.
“We’re already happy with the response we’ve been getting,” said owner Dan Duncheon, who runs the business with wife Jody “We’re open for business.”
The owners have spent much of the new year moving from the old store on Main Street and into the new spot at 35 N. Vermilion St., which has included extensive renovation.
“We’ve got a total facelift,” Duncheon said of the new store. “There’s not a thing we haven’t done something to.”
All of the owners say they’re excited about their new downtown locations, many of whom moved there from other areas of town to take advantage of a centralized location — and hopefully more customers.
The energy can be heard in the voice of Dale Dombrowski, who owns and operates Blossom Hill Florist with Mike Bard, and whose longtime store moved from 810 W. Oak St. to the downtown district around Valentine’s Day. The Oak Street location will remain a gift and baked goods shop.
“We’ve had lots more walk-in traffic,” he said. “It’s been wonderful. There’s a lot of new activity going on down here. It’s exciting to watch.”
After one month, Dombrowski had this comparison of the two locations: “It’s like night and day.”
Cindy Masengale, who moved the Fancy That store from the Village Mall to downtown earlier this year with sister Donna Lackey, said she’s been working on trying to remember the names of all the storeowners who have stopped by.
She said she’s regretted not being very involved yet, as the prom-rental side of the business is in the midst of its busiest season.
“Somebody will stop by or we’ll get each other’s packages,” she said. “We haven’t had a lot of time. Right now we’re open seven days a week.”
She said a few customers have had difficulty finding the new location, but it hasn’t been a big issue.
She said she’s sure Fancy That has contributed to the business of other restaurants in the downtown area — because she and the staff have eaten at some of them regularly.
“We’ve been going out for drinks and meals a lot more,” she said.
All Things Unique Boutique owner-operator April Hix, who opened the brand-new store with brand-new clothing and accessories in January with sister-in-law Crystal McQuown, said they’ve seen a recent uptick in business as they begin to see the fruits of their advertising labor.
“Our biggest thing has been trying to get the word out,” she said. “We’ve done quite a bit of advertising and it seems like it’s getting out there.”
And there is more to come.
Downtown Danville Inc. Executive Director Dana Schaumburg announced Sunday owners of a new music spot, Club H24, would be opened by Tazz Johnson this spring.
The club would be located at 24 N. Hazel Street, a side of the downtown district currently under construction for the city’s streetscape plan meant to make crossing the road easier for pedestrians.
Schaumburg said “at least” one other store owner will be making a spring opening announcement.
In addition to the four new retail storefronts, other, recent positive signs for downtown include:
-- First Midwest Bank’s recent announcement it would be reopening its downtown branch facility, closed three years go.
-- Downtown’s newest restaurant, The Varsity Room, has been open for less than a year.
-- The addition of the Fischer Theater Stage Presents gift shop last holiday season.
-- The inclusion of “signature loan” company, Fast Funds, inside the new Kid’s Kloset business.
-- The start of $408,000 in the first phase of city streetscape improvements on Hazel Street.
New downtown owners say the flurry of activity is giving shoppers more reasons to come down-town.
“We feel like we’re part of building downtown back up,” Hix said. “I think the bank opening back up across the street is going to help us a lot. We have had quite a few business owners come by and welcome us. It’s been nice.”
She said the store will be participating in downtown events and activities, like the Spring Fling sale they’re having in conjunction with DDI’s Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 27.
“We’ve already enjoyed our relationship with DDI and look forward to the Easter Egg hunt,” Duncheon added. “It’s good to be here.”
Masengale said so far, downtown has been the ideal location she hoped it would be.
“It’s just a different atmosphere,” she said. “We love it. We’re used to a small town, and that’s what it feels like down here.”
