Dominated for decades by industry, area gets a facelift with specialty retail stores

A shuffle of new business in the north end of downtown near Second Street between Monroe and Jackson avenues is changing the flavor of the neighborhood, mostly for the good, neighbors say.

"I think everybody is trying to make a go of it," said Gary Mahana, owner of Gary's Automotive at 128 N.W. Second St. "They're good neighbors and as long as I can still get into my shop and do what I need to do, it's fine."

Mahana operates one of the last auto shops downtown in an area that once was primarily industrial. Machine shops, auto parts and other repair shops dominated for decades.

Now, retail stores such as Donna Bella, a lingerie store, Inside Out Garden Visions and the Sibling Revelry boutique are introducing specialty retail stores into the area.

"People say downtown is an attractive place to be located," said Joan Wessell, executive director of the Downtown Corvallis Association. "Landlords also are finding that a better use of that space is for retail."

That's why David Graetz chose the new location for his store, Your Green Home.

"For us, it's always about getting more foot traffic. There's been a lot of vacant spots and under-utilized space."

Graetz said that he hopes to open by mid-December, to attract holiday shoppers.

Dorothy Williams, who operates Sibling Revelry at 145 N.W. Second St. with her sister Catherine Holdorf, said much of the change is owed to development to the east, including restaurants and the Riverfront Commemorative Park.

"When we moved in, we were told we should be on Madison, but we really enjoy this part of town," Williams said. "There's a couple of hard blocks on the edges of downtown. With people going to Big River, Peak Sports and the other stores on the block, that's really been helpful."

Keta Tom, who runs the Fingerboard Extension with Ted Tom, appreciates what the neighborhood used to be. Their shop used to be an auto parts store for 50 years. She likes to show people where clerks wore a rut in the wooden floor searching parts catalogs in the same spot.

"It's become more and more chi-chi," she said. "We'll see what happens in the economy. I kind of wish it had more of the old-time flavor."

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-1958 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.