Florence merchants are crossing their fingers for business this holiday season, but worry that vacant and deteriorating buildings downtown scare potential customers away.
But, they're hoping some local artists can bring life into the area.
Abandoned buildings, vacant storefronts, the deterioration of downtown Florence is unquestionable.
Cedric Brigman owns a barber shop downtown and said he relies on his regular customers, because there's not much foot traffic.
That's why he agreed to put local art in his storefront.
"A lot of abandoned buildings, you want to see something positive going on, makes it look a little more interesting than just looking at empty windows," Brigman told NewsChannel 15.
Sculptor Alex Palkovich chairs The Art Trail of Downtown Committee, and is working with the city to put local art in vacant windows and businesses in the area.
"It should be a destination, people should know, we come to Florence, you go to downtown, you see artwork," Palkovich said.
He said it's an inexpensive way to make the downtown more attractive.
Justin Hardee recently bought a building on Cheves Street and has agreed to put art in his windows.
"The goal is to one day have people actually come down here and say, 'Let's go downtown on Friday night,' instead of avoiding this area on the weekends and at night," Hardee told NewsChannel 15.
Cedric Brigman hopes it starts, with art.
"You check out the window, the displays, you see that business is going on, you might want to get some services," Brigman said.
Services that merchants say will be ready and waiting.
So far, 41 artists have lent artwork to six storefronts.
