Few things define Tempe as instantaneously or completely as Mill Avenue. For more than a century now, the street — which takes its name from the dilapidated building that stands yet as a reminder of this city’s storied past — has been witness to the growth of ASU and the changes that time has brought to this area.
Everyone has their favorite memories of Mill — be it the wild nights out on town, the dazzling winter Festival of Lights, the most exciting Halloween celebration in the Southwest, great concerts and fireworks at Tempe Beach Park, or simply just innumerable evenings spent hanging around the place.
These and every other pursuit associated with downtown Tempe involve one of Tempe’s local businesses at some point, and these combined with ASU’s student population are the constituents that give Mill Avenue its unique charm.
However, businesses seldom manage to balance their budgets on grandiose statements and heart-warming declarations alone. It takes patronage and a loyal clientele to keep a restaurant or a coffee shop or a bookstore running and independent, and it is this that has been in woeful shortage over the past few years.
Over the last couple of years, a number of local establishments have shut shop and left behind forlorn spaces and “For Lease” signs. The real extent of the downturn was heralded with the departure of Harkins Centerpoint Cinemas, long a student favorite on the weekends, and Borders bookstore, the Brickyard behemoth that had seemed to defy all signs of a recession. The Brickyard has proved especially unlucky for new ventures, with a number of novel business propositions running aground before garnering any sort of patronage.
The downturn has also affected the numerous restaurants that make Mill a veritable gastronomic paradise, with cuisine from around the world up on offer. Angel Lopez, the manager at Tempe’s Restaurant Mexico, said business has been slower over the past couple of years. Lopez added that although establishments have had to come up with special offers and discounts to attract patronage, the cost of doing business on Mill has risen steadily.
As ASU students, we make up one of the largest customer bases for businesses in downtown Tempe, and it is time to recognize that potential and act on it.
The next time you plan an evening around this wonderful street, add in something new: Explore a new cuisine, try a local concoction, catch an independent movie or simply explore the various local stores that have managed to stay afloat to serve you.
Remember, without your support, Mill Avenue’s corporate chains may still survive, but its quaint charm almost certainly won’t.
Kartik thinks he has this recession thing all figured out. Mail him Econ 111 notes at kartikt@asu.edu
