Laredo Downtown Merchants Association president Les Norton offered his opinion on the state of downtown Laredo's economy during a noon Kiwanis Club speech Tuesday.
Norton called himself "an optimistic merchant, yet also a frustrated downtown merchant."
His optimism springs from having seen numerous ups and downs economically as the Norton family, along with the Miltons and Hachars, has been part of downtown Laredo business for more than 60 years, according to him.
"A common thread among other cities in the United States has been their focus on revitalizing their downtown areas," Norton said. "Downtown Laredo has never had to revitalize itself. We've always been there."
Norton said downtown merchants offer a bigger market for quality conscious and price conscious shoppers.
"In downtown stores, there is a bigger market for a $10 shirt than a $50 shirt," he said.
His pessimism? Well, that starts with criticism of the Laredo City Council's members. Toss in watching a successful outlet mall go up in Mercedes, located in the ever-growing Rio Grande Valley area including McAllen, while El Portal Mall remains pretty much an empty space and there's a base for Norton's frustration.
"While other cities act, we talk," he told the Kiwanis Club gathering.
What good will Norton's words do?
Only time will tell
-- Joe Rutland
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