A New Look Of Prosperity In Old Town

He sees signs that things are changing for the better. He has been particularly heartened to learn that the city will soon unveil the banners that will be festooned along King, helping create a holiday air and a greater sense of place.

"There's a new mentality" among the city's officials, Martin said.

He isn't the only businessman who has seen a change among government officials he once perceived as somewhat anti-business and overly bureaucratic.

Joe Egerton, the proprietor of Arts Afire Glass Gallery, said he, too, thinks Alexandria officials have become "more amenable" to business, but he said he also has noticed that merchants are becoming more assertive about taking risks. He teamed up with J. Brown, of J. Brown & Co., at 1119 King, to organize 22 merchants to share the $2,090 expense of the planters, mainly because the retailers want to make their block as attractive as possible to lure tourists from National Harbor, the retail, office and conference center being built across the Potomac River in Maryland.

"People have been bold and done things," Egerton said. "We made the decision, and it was done in two weeks."

He said merchants are optimistic because they are convinced that National Harbor will add to the retail trade. The convention and hotel center is expected to bring an additional 500 to 1,000 tourists to Old Town each day, many traveling to Virginia by water taxi. The center will open early next year.

"It'll do nothing but increase the traffic here," Egerton said. "It'll increase our business."

To Cindy McCartney, who in October opened Diva, a designer consignment boutique just off King Street, Old Town Alexandria felt like the only right place to sell upmarket clothing. The location, a house built in the 1880s that has been used as an office and a store, seemed distinctive enough to intrigue her affluent clientele. She will soon add a bridal boutique section.

"I wanted someplace with a lot of character, not a regular storefront," she said. "It's great to be in a place that people love so much. There's so much opportunity here."

But she admitted that the wait for better times can be difficult. In her case, she is just down the street from the former Holiday Inn. The street in front of her business is sometimes blocked by construction trucks hauling materials to and from the hotel site. She thinks her business will surge when the hotel is completed this fall.

"Once the hotel opens, I think it'll get better and better," she said.