Business boom continues for Decatur

DECATUR, AL (WAFF) - Some changes are on the way for the city of Decatur. The planning commission met Tuesday and voted to possibly bring in two new restaurants to the area. A move that city officials hope will keep the area growing and bring more people to Decatur.

City officials credit their boom in business to teamwork.

"I would say that because each one of the entities that are involved work so closely together: the city, the chamber, the downtown redevelopment authority, the economic development authority, we are all working so closely together and that helps tremendously," said Crystal Brown. She's the Director of Business Development with the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce. "When we have other communities come into our community that's the first thing they notice and comment on."

Something else people may be commenting on are two new restaurants. City officials met Tuesday afternoon to discuss getting another Zaxby's and adding a Buffalo Wild Wings.

"Buffalo Wild Wings has been interested in the area for quite some time and we've been interested in having them here because that's a restaurant type that we've been missing in the area," Brown said.

The changes would add to the list that Decatur has already made.  They recently launched their downtown entertainment district, a move that brings people in every week.

"It's created a lot of excitement," Brown said.  "I've heard a lot of people talking about downtown that I've never heard talk about downtown before."

The district is also good news to local business owners like Ashley Ashwander. She owns The Paper Chase located downtown.

"The crowds have absolutely increased which has of course increased traffic to the stores," she said. "We want it to be an extra element to bring people downtown. It could be another reason that they might stroll around and shop and eat at our restaurants."

It's traffic that they hopes keeps coming as the city continues to expand and make room for what's to come.

Brown said there are no updates on the development of the Sweetwater Property. Another thing they are working on is bringing residential living to downtown Decatur.

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