Downtown Business Opens Before Coming Soon Banner Fades

The Gallery at 114 opened its doors on Skin Alley last Friday, marking a first for the downtown district: a business that opened while its "Coming Soon" banner was still readable.

The banner was installed in March and removed in July, a service life of just under four months. City staff describe it as the shortest-tenured banner in the modern downtown record.

The previous banner in that same window served five years, weathering five summers, four repaintings of the adjacent facade, two changes in property ownership and one comprehensive downtown branding refresh. It was celebrated in this newsletter in 2023 on the occasion of its fifth anniversary.

"We used to say the banners were a sign of momentum," the Economic Development Manager said. "They were a sign of something. We are more comfortable now saying what."

The Storefront Activation Program, which previously funded window treatments for vacant retail space, has been redirected toward tenant recruitment and build-out assistance. Thirty-one ground-floor vacancies have been filled since the program was restructured.

The retired banner has been donated to the Notcross History Museum, where it will be displayed in the Old Notcross gallery.