Downtown stores rise, fall with on-campus population

For the ever-shifting lineup of locally owned businesses downtown, summertime is a parched time in more ways than one.

Most downtown merchants see the beginning of the University’s academic year, when thousands of students wander off campus to browse the offerings on Franklin Street, as relief from the slow days of summer.

“Downtown in the summer is often empty. It’s a wasteland,” said Bruce Stone, former owner of the Carolina Theatre (see insert), located at the corner of Franklin and Columbia streets in the former Gap building. The theater closed in July.

Stone, who also owns the Varsity and Chelsea theatres, has operated the Carolina Theatre since 1993.

He said that while he had enjoyed owning the “big and lovely” historic theater, it was difficult to make a profit because of competition from nearby multiplexes.

The building’s owner, Joe Riddle, has said he has been looking for someone to lease the building since the Gap closed in May of 2004.

Stone said, “I knew sooner or later that we would bow out.”

Lucky Stars owner Betty Maultsby said she knew it was her time to move out of her location at 145 E. Franklin St. because her lease expires at the end of August.

Maultsby has owned the clothing store, which specialized in trendy junior clothing, for the past eight years.

“I have developed (my store) so that it is a downtown store,” she said.

Maultsby said she did not like that her store was split into two floors of sale space. She said she is looking for a new retail location but wants to stay downtown.

University Square on Franklin Street also saw some turnover this summer. Kilwin’s of Chapel Hill, a chocolate and ice cream shop, closed after about a year of business.

“Business in Chapel Hill in the summer is not the best if you are geared to kids or college kids,” said Betty Kenan, owner of University Square.

Other business closings in the Chapel Hill area include: Temple Ball in Carrboro; The Potted Plant at Eastgate Shopping Center; and Branch’s Chapel Hill Bookshop off South Elliott Road.

While retention of downtown businesses has been an ongoing issue, there is a slate of new businesses ready to compete for permanency.

BSki’s, The Tortilla Wrap Grill Inc., is expected to open its doors in the next few months, owner Bradley Smith said.

The restaurant is filling the empty spot at 147 E. Franklin St., the former site of a Hallmark gift store, which had been vacant for more than a year. Renovations will begin this week, he said.

The restaurant will be serving grilled tortilla wraps. Smith said solid customer service will help his venue stand out from the myriad fast-food options on Franklin Street.

“We’re really working on having the quickest service possible,” Smith said.

New downtown businesses also are opening up at University Square this fall, Kenan said, including a young women’s boutique and a restaurant that will specialize in country-style cooking.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.