ORLANDO, Fla.,None — There's a new indication Orlando's new half-billion-dollar Amway Center is bringing business to downtown. The city has leased every storefront on W. Church Street.
The Amway Center has drawn more than Orlando Magic fans to downtown Orlando. In the past few months, close to 20 new businesses have opened their doors and others are coming soon.
Blaine Schulte and his partner opened Lubrano's Pizza on W. Church Street on December 19.
"The Amway, we figured there would be a lot of foot traffic," Schulte said.
A lot of business owners figured the same thing when they signed leases with the city of Orlando.
"It's obviously positive from the standpoint of employment, number one, sales tax is two. Also, empty buildings are worth less money and generate less tax money than occupied buildings," said Thomas Chatmon of the Downtown Development Board.
"We're absolutely going out on a limb. And it's something we've addressed and we're willing to take a risk for," Schulte said.
Oopsy Scoopsy began serving up frozen yogurt in November. Owner Corey Lamb told WFTV he doesn't think enough people are aware of the transformation in downtown since the completion of the new Amway Center.
"The awareness is not here yet, but its coming. It's coming," Lamb said.
Andria Brown said she hopes so. She's been in her Church Street space for 10 years. But in November, her former seamstress shop reopened as the Sweet Stop Candy Shop.
"I'm hoping that we'll not just survive, but be successful at what we do as entrepreneurs," Brown said.
The city told WFTV businesses have also recently opened on W. Pine Street, S. Eola Drive, Parramore Avenue and South Orange Avenue.
WFTV
