A depressing walk down Elm Street

Elm Street depresses me these days. Walking the six blocks between Merrimack and Bridge streets earlier today I counted 11 vacant or soon-to-be vacant storefronts dotting our city's main downtown throughfare:

I am probably most upset by the closing of Tee Shirt Bodega, a shop that produces funky custom T-shirts:

A sign posted in the store's window recently informed passers-by that while the store's Manchester location is closed, Tee Shirt Bodega's Nashua store remains open, as does the company's online store.

I'm also sad to see the Merrimack Restaurant shuttered up:

The Merrimack's food was cheap and decent and the restaurant was a New Hampshire Primary landmark, which is why I hope whomever buys the building will leave intact the New Hampshire Primary mural painted by Manchester artist Peter Noonan.

Of course, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't somewhat happy that one downtown office — Countrywide Home Loans — whose irresponsible lending practices helped create the current economic slump — was forced to shutter its office at 968 Elm Street:

For all of the Elm Street businesses that have either closed or moved in the past year or so, there have been very few to open. One, J. Dubs Coffeeshop, opened in the Brady Sullivan Plaza at 1000 Elm back in the fall of 2008. Let's hope there will be more, and soon.

Comments

[Jen]

I agree - its really bad out there. I don't spend as much time downtown as I used to, so I was really thrown when I drove down Elm the other day. Even the malls are starting to look barren, and those businesses have more corporate support that the mom and pop places. Scary...

[Brian]

I am sorry to inform you, Mr. Will, that mural was sandblasted last week and pressure washed this week. They have been tearing the place apart and now able to see behind the recently removed facade, it needs a TON of work, structurally.

But I do hope a low end restaurant goes back in and serves up a great grilled cheese and bacon like the old Merrimack did...