I may turn this post into a yearly thing so that we can follow the retail scene in downtown Raleigh. About a year ago, I posted a list of ten empty spaces that should be filled with retail or office space or something. In my opinion, they were the top ten spaces that get a lot of exposure and should be contributing to the downtown sidewalk culture. Now, we can take a look at the progress and see what else has changed in a years time.
The 2008 top ten list:
- Progress Energy II
- Wilmington and Martin Street
- 14 West Martin Street
- 114 Fayetteville Street
- The Raleigh Sandwich Shop
- Odd Fellows
- Commerce Place
- Boylan Pearce
- The Depot
- City Market
Unfortunately, there is not much to report. The current state of this list is very similar to the state it was in about a year ago. The old Music Hall at 14 West Martin street now has Club Fourteen and the City Market building has on-going construction work in the half facing Martin Street while the back half sits empty. Jibarra has opened in The Depot space but the rest of the building still sits empty. The emptiness at 114 Fayetteville has spread next door with the closing of the Fayetteville Street Tavern.
New Additions:
- RBC Plaza – This tower offers three retail spaces to the core of downtown. Unfortunately, they have been empty for almost a year.
- Hargett Street – The intersection of Hargett and Wilmington streets has become one of downtown’s busiest and the empty spaces along the 100 block of East Hargett street is missing out on the action.
- The Hue – The condos are for sale and so is the empty retail space along Dawson and Hargett.
- Joe’s Place – Who will add more neon to the now closed Joe’s Place at 301 Martin Street?
