The Rose Market, a key Mediterranean store in Saratoga Village, has been closed for a year, contributing to a growing number of vacancies in the area, which Mayor Belal Aftab noted has risen to 13. Aftab explained that the lack of stores discourages foot traffic, which in turn deters potential business owners. Factors affecting this trend include changes in traffic patterns due to the construction of Highway 85, the rise of online shopping, and early business closures. Longtime resident Kookie Fitzsimmons reminisced about the quaint shopping experience of her childhood, contrasting it with the current state of the Village.
"If there aren't enough stores downtown, then people aren't drawn to the area. And if there aren't people shopping, prospective business owners are less likely to set up shop there."
"Growing up, I remember a quaint small town life, where the nearest hardware store or grocery store was downtown. But that's not the case in Saratoga today."
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