But after more than two years here, Franklin Street has left me disappointed.
I haven't just become bored with the stores and restaurants. I also don't see the drabness of the vendors as adding to the "charm" of the college scene. They just look, well, for lack of a better word -- shabby.
Some vacant store fronts have either been vacant for years or are constantly changing over from one unsuccessful small business to another.
Even Chapel Hill institutions that have been on Franklin for years are beginning to show their age. Window fronts are dark and gloomy, signs and awnings are faded and ragged, and storefront styles are seriously outdated.
The whole street looks worn and aged. Only a few of the stores that have actually managed to stay alive are more than mediocre.
To say the Chapel Hill business district is in need of a facelift is a gross understatement.
There are exceptions to these generalizations, of course. Some national names such as Gap, Starbucks and Sephora, as well as new specialty stores like The Laughing Turtle and Julian's, are attractive, modern and appealing. These few "destination" stores have put the pressure on surrounding locally owned businesses to shape up their image. But these few stores can't do it alone.
I don't want to see Franklin Street become the newest extension of the Streets at Southpoint. I do believe the exclusive, independent boutiques and restaurants are what add the most flavor to this college town.
And the last thing I want to see is unoriginal chains, impersonal superstores and blas
