LEEDS — (Editor’s Note: This is the final article in a series on the Historic downtown district. Readers can post comments on our web site or  Facebook.)



The historic downtown of Leeds is still pumping with life and energy everyday. The traffic flow is steady all throughout business hours. A vibrant and charming area, the downtown district has a promising future for prospective business owners looking to take advantage of the affordable rent and the draw historic towns can hold for patrons.

“Some of the buildings need a little facelift,” remarked Joshua Mitchell of Second Time Around. “They are basically solid and in need of only cosmetic improvements.”

The downtown district has its struggles but continues to support long time businesses such as The Pants Store. Michael and John Gee are third-generation business owners and managers of The Pants Store. In fact, the store is celebrating 60 years in downtown this year.

An offsetting economy and struggles with competition near the interstate is something specialty shops in the area are able to overcome.

“We have patrons looking for items you can’t find in large retail chains,” said Tim Jennings of the Monkey’s Uncle. “Our customers come back again and again because we deliver the unique items they are searching to find.”

With a new restaurant possibly coming to downtown and activities planned by the Leeds Theatre and Arts Council, the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Folk Festival and John Henry Celebration committee to look forward to, the forecast for the downtown district is still good.

Garden City Auctions moved into the downtown district on Parkway Drive in February of this year.

“We’ve had such a great response,” said Renee Tucker owner of Garden City. “Our auctions have increased to every Friday night and most Saturdays since we opened.”

Shop owners have to be innovative and willing to overcome certain obstacles, but they are determined.

Patrons continue to find the hidden treasure of antiques, auctions and reliability in the stores they have come to know and trust in Leeds. Downtown businesses count on word-of-mouth referrals by loyal patrons to spread the news about the area.

Sewer fees, parking concerns and the need for a few facelifts downtown haven’t dampened the spirit of these businesses at all. Local business spaces and homes continue to attract interest.

“We field calls regularly from interested parties outside the area looking to come to Leeds,” said Alisa Burleson of J. Huggins Realty. “Downtown still holds a market for business owners and families alike.”

Once the atmosphere of downtown gets into some business owners, they just can’t imagine going some place else.

“I don’t want to be anywhere else,” said Peggy Blankenship of Peggy’s Barber Shop. “My customers are like my extended family.”