TWIN FALLS, ID (KMVT) Yesterday we talked about the ongoing debate over parking in downtown Twin Falls. Now we look at the cold hard realities of doing business there, and what it's going to take to make downtown Twin Falls bloom again economically.

Some store buildings are empty, seemingly abandoned, and could use some tender loving care. That's why Richard Crowley moved his store to the Magic Valley Mall. His grandfather opened Crowley's Pharmacy on Main Avenue 70 years ago in 1942.

16 Christmases ago, Crowley moved the upstairs bookstore out to the Magic Valley Mall, and renamed the store Crowley's the Quad.

Crowley says, "If I was serious about expanding retail, I couldn't put all my hopes in a downtown location. That was a sad fact. I still lament over that a little bit."

A few years later, the downtown building was revamped into Crowley's Soda Fountain. Crowley says since the Quad opened at Magic Valley Mall, it's become a regional store serving Southern Idaho and Northern Nevada by moving out near the Perrine Bridge.

Crowley says, "We quadrupled sales the first year and it's continued to expand from there. Could I have quadrupled sales down on Main Avenue? I honestly don't think so. And that's just a rotten thing for us downtowners."

Shopper Susan Eastwood says, "I love downtown. It's cute, and I'd like to see it grow. I'd love to see it grow."

Crowley says he hoped to bring the bookstore back downtown, but in 16 years, that hasn't worked out. In the last year, the Urban Renewal Agency was able to help 13 property owners give their stores' facades a facelift with a matching grant program totaling $90,000.


Melinda Anderson, Executive Director of the Urban Renewal Agency, says, "There's some beautiful new facades, things that look really nice. Susan Antiques, Obenchain, O'Dunken's building, Kelly's, Cookie Basket, just to name a few."

After fixing up the old Hudson's shoe store next door to the soda fountain, Crowley was able to rent to a new tenant. He says the city needs to invest in downtown's infrastructure, and it will take a team effort with plenty of people to make downtown Twin Falls a viable place to do even more business again.

Feb. 3, 2012.