TYLER, Texas — Not too long ago, downtown Longview was not the ideal hangout spot. However, the city is trying to change that perception.
The city’s Main Street Program, which is part of Texas Main Street, is working diligently to revitalize the historical downtown area.
Main Street Coordinator Melida Heien says there is a lot going on now in downtown Longview.
“New businesses, new restaurants, a lot of different things that’s just kind of generating some excitement and, you know, a real feeling of community within our downtown,” Heien said.
Heine says it has taken years of work but they are just about finish with the updates.
“Like a lot of downtown[s] across the nation, we’ve kinda gone through our ebbs and flows, good times, bad times, necessary difficult times with street reconstruction. But, all in all, in the end, you end up with something that’s better than what you started,” Heine said. “Right now we just finished our street space project which pretty much took about 20 years. Now, we have beautiful streets with great landscaping and lighting. Now our business climate is starting to reestablish and we’re getting new things into the downtown.”
Along with the businesses, new roads and infrastructure, like an affordable housing apartment complex, are currently under construction.
Heartisans Marketplace has been in downtown for the last four years. They say they love the location.
"Downtown Longview is really the heartbeat of our city, and so being in the location and being that downtown is just starting to build up," Kristin Koonce of Heartisans said. "More people are finding out about us, which is awesome, but you still struggle because downtown has been kind of a little lifeless. But It’s been the past 10 or so years it has started to build up."
Koonce says it could be a little tricky attracting clientele, but now that more businesses are in the area, more customers are coming in and checking out their products.
“Now that we’re getting more restaurants and everything," Koonce said. "It’s starting to pick up a little pace and speed up a little bit which we’re so thankful for."
Downtown Longview will introduce three museums, two coffee shops, a microbrewery, restaurants and tons of unique boutiques for people to enjoy.
On Friday, April 5, Downtown Live kicks off at Heritage Plaza with live music and food trucks with snacks for purchase.
For more on what’s going on downtown Longview, check out the city’s website here.