I’ve worked on Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor my entire life. My business used to be at 220 S. Main. In 1989, I moved it next door, into 214.
Some of the things I like about downtown…
a. Lots of history. These buildings are well over one hundred years old. I like thinking about all the people that have walked these sidewalks, shopped in these stores, worked in these buildings.
b. Colorful characters. I think of all the wonderful folks I’ve met over the past thirty some years. Never would have met folks like these working in the mall or in a strip center.
c. A bustling environment. Dentists, retailers, restaurateurs, street performers, shoppers, sidewalk café hanger-outers, pre-school field-trippers, lunchers, people asking for directions. Always something going on.
d. Everybody you know. Sooner or later, nearly everybody you know stops in to see you.
e. Stress relief. Feeling a little tense? A little over-focused? Just head for the street and watch people parallel parking. Guaranteed to make you feel better!