As some stores on Commercial Street close, north Springfield business owners remain positive about the future

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – It’s been a rough year for some small businesses on Commercial Street in north Springfield.

But some business owners say there’s new hope in the New Year.

“It’s not like it used to be,” Corie Godspy.

She is one of the owners of Moon City Pub.

“I think people still have that mindset of the Missouri Hotel, a lot of the homeless community. But it really has, in the past 5 to 10 years, it’s really on an upswing,” she said.

Teri Perry asked, “How could you not fall in love with it?”

She also owns the pub.

“I feel like the businesses here now are so attractive to people who haven’t seen us before because I hear a lot about that,” she said.

Both women say that although a few retailers have closed on the street recently, business for this corridor is still booming.

“Everybody that did close, it’s under different circumstances. It’s not just one thing. It’s not the economy. It’s not C Street itself. It’s just different things have happened,” said Godspy.

Perry said, “It concerns me for them but not so much for C Street because I know that we’re vibrant.”

Godspy explains that several other shops have popped up as of late.

“Ladoux, they’re ready to open this weekend. Springfield Merchantile just opened back up. La Rue, a French restaurant is getting ready to open in the spring. Ruthie’s off C Street, they’re not on C Street anymore but they’re just half a block, they just opened back up. There are still things opening. It just kind of happened at the same time that a few of these businesses have closed, which is sad,” she explained.

Perry believes the district is on the verge of becoming what it used to be.

“Back when everybody from our neighborhoods nearby used to all come to C Street to shop. I totally think it has that potential again. We’ve just got to stick it out and make it happen,” she said.

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