Nicollet, an area full of history with restaurants, shopping, art, and entertainment. An area once so full of life and bustling with excitement. An area that has seen many ups and downs since its vibrant beginning in the early 1900s, now is experiencing a new struggle. With people gravitating towards staying at home for work rather than going into the office, businesses are struggling. Less people are visiting the Nicollet area, many businesses, in this once bustling district, are now having to close their doors and leave their history behind them. Covid 19, began a change in the habits of the frequent visitors to Nicollet and even with new advancements and updates to the area, the environment is permanently changed and sees lasting impacts.
Lisa Middag, the Senior director for economic development for the DID, said, “We knew there’d be more work flex schedules coming, but really what pronounced, like just created that moment, was COVID. So everyone went remote and all the businesses that were in all these places that were supported by workers didn’t have any business and businesses have since really struggled.”
COVID kickstarted a period of struggle for the Nicollet area, leading to less energy and more struggle in this space. Less office workers entering the area each day created less business for restaurants and shopping centers. One business, dating all the way back to 1935, has been a constant in the area. Moss Optical is a family run business with strong roots in the downtown, Nicollet area.
Jane Hale, the current owner of Moss Optical, said, “So my great grandfather is the one who started the business … he first was a watch maker and then it evolved into the optical department. So we had both going at one point … and then it morphed more into just the optical business.”
Kevin Beck, Jane’s son, said, “There have been so many patients that have been here, coming here for so long. You know I’ll go through old files, paper files sometimes and see some from 60s 70s and its just crazy to think that these people have been coming back for so long then they bring their families and then they bring their kids. So, I feel like there is a lot more of that kind of community here that we have just because everybody keeps coming back over and over again.”
The customers of Moss Optical have created a strong name for the company. Through hard times, the growing community and the trusting customers, are what has kept them open and thriving. From being celebrated by the community to seeing the same faces over and over, this business stands strong through adversity and social change.
Middag said, “Small businesses are really what gives the downtown its flavor um and we’re really proud of the flavor of downtown in the core its really hard we have so much vacancy so and especially in this very area we have really high vacancy. So we want to help those small businesses hang on and keep pushing.”
Hale said, “We’re a family business we keep it simple, we like to keep, make sure customers are well taken care of,”
Small business owners will continue to keep downtown’s culture alive. Through struggles and hard times, with less visitors to Nicollet, strong communities like those built around Moss Optical will remain strong and keep growing in this downtown area.
