“This is strongest it’s been in the last 10-15 years,” downtown business owners excited about growth

Several business owners who have been in downtown for decades are excited about growth they’ve seen in the area.

“This is the strongest downtown we’ve had in 10-15 years,” said Richard Napier, owner of Idaho Mountain Trading- it’s been a business in the area since 1977. Businesses who have called downtown home for years credit their success to strong business plans, and the allure of downtown for people in Idaho Falls. “I’ve always said you can recreate 17th street or any of these other locations you can recreate any of these places in Idaho Falls but there’s only one river and one downtown,” said Stand Ingram of Ingram’s Jewelers.

2016 was a great year for many retailers and restaurants for their sales “I call it the Trump bump,” said Ingram. Ingram believes the last quarter of 2016 gave many shoppers a renewed optimism and that carried into business.

New residential projects are on the way in downtown Idaho Falls, including the renovation of the Bonneville hotel and another project on the former Saving Center lot. Business owners feel like this will only add to the vibrancy they’ve noticed recently. “I think the years going to get strong the economy seems to be rebounding and that’s good,” said Napier. For Idaho Mountain Trading, the snow season has helped them out as well ” there’s some businesses like tire stores that do really well when the weather gets like this it gets people invigorated and gets them moving,” said Napier.