A couple of years ago, we reflected on the state of retail on South Street and lamented the numerous vacancies, pointing to the corner of 6th & South as a prime example of just how far South Street had fallen. On the 600 block, we counted several vacant storefronts, including the first four retail spaces on the south side of the block.

Two years ago

What a difference just a couple of years can make. As we told you back in April, Sneaker Villa has taken over the very large former home of Tower Records. European Republic opened in another one of these spaces about a year and a half ago. And according to Foobooz, exciting new restaurant Serpico, which we first told you about last fall, will start regular dinner service tomorrow night. To go with a completely reworked interior, owners Stephen Starr and Peter Serpico put a sweet new facade on the building as well.

The new look of the new stores

Zooming in on Serpico

And that’s not all! While plans for a Roots mural and a 7-11 have fallen through for the building on the corner which has been vacant since McDonald’s cleared out several years ago, this building is actively being improved. Windows that have been boarded up for decades are finally being reinstalled, with permits showing plans for four new apartments. While we don’t know of a commercial tenant in place for the first floor, we’d have to guess that filling this retail space can only be moving closer to reality as all of these improvements take place at the property and right next door.

In the past

Omg windows!

We’ll keep our eyes peeled and our ears open for anything new coming soon to this space or anywhere else on South Street. It’s amazing just how much more energy and excitement this stretch has picked up in just a couple of years, we’ll be interested to see what happens in the years to come.