Recovery for Mill Avenue Businesses in Tempe, AZ
Tempe, AZ – Businesses along Mill Avenue are looking for a turnaround as Arizona State University students return from summer break and a prolonged downtown construction project concludes.
While these factors have arrived, many storefronts and restaurants find that customer traffic is still lagging. Jesse Salazar, general manager of Daily Jam, reported a 70% drop in sales during the construction period. Although there’s been a slight increase in customers since, it’s not the surge he anticipated, emphasizing the importance of attracting first-time visitors to convert them into repeat customers.
Lori Foster, President and CEO of the Downtown Tempe Authority, remarked that the path to recovery has been slower than expected, impacted by ongoing setbacks including streetcar construction, the pandemic, and extensive work on the Downtown Tempe Refresh project.
In response to declining foot traffic, various events and marketing campaigns are being undertaken to draw visitors back. The newly formed Mill Avenue Coalition aims to unite local businesses to find solutions for boosting customer numbers. Foster noted the significance of businesses’ narratives in attracting customers and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the coalition.
Signs of improvement are emerging, with 17 new businesses set to open in the next eight months and a decrease in the vacancy rate from 12% to 10%. Newer businesses, like Lizard Head Trading Company, are leveraging community engagement and word-of-mouth referrals to create a loyal customer base.
As cooler weather approaches and ASU students gradually return, there is a sense of optimism about revitalizing the Mill Avenue corridor.
