Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) --Owner Chris Rucker of Kruhu in downtown Augusta, keeping busy the brand company does it all from advertising to graphics. Rucker says he's been noticing changes downtown.

"The overall vibe of downtown has changed dramatically," said Rucker.

The Downtown Development Authority is being praised with bringing in over a dozen new restaurants and retail stores to downtown Augusta in the past year. They've hired a retail strategist who says there will be more.

"Augusta is a good sell with the river and the Masters, but then you've gotta bring people on the ground and show them how well the restaurants and retailers are actually performing," said Wade Robinette with Retail Strategies.

Robinette says there are some challenges though. The downtown area is not directly off the interstate and does not have enough parking.

"It just hinders new stores opening primarily because your're having to convince someone whose not currently open that thier customers can park somewhere," said Robinette.

Robinette says it's not all bad, new apartments and lofts are being built in downtown Augusta, but says that needs to continue.

"I think the main thing is to get investment dollars to commit to multi family and loft development," said Robinette.

That's what could end up attracting big box stores. Right now Walmart is testing their smaller neighborhood market stores for the next two years.

"The grocery market will come, most of the grocers are smaller box concepts are all on the radar to be in downtown Augusta," said Robinette.

Rucker wants to see more big box stores downtown, mixed in with local shops. He says it will bring them even more business.

The new hired guns are focusing on brining business to Greene, Reynolds, and Broad Streets. They are promising results.

"It's really cool to see this bubble about to burst we're just on the brink,"said Rucker.

