Wall Street woes wither Main Street

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - The economic woes of Wall Street aren't far from Marble Falls in Central Texas.

A walk down Main Street - literally - will reveal shutdown shops, empty restaurants and other stores on the verge of financial crisis as foot traffic creeps to a nonexistent slow.

"We're losing businesses, you know, we've lost three or four just since January," said Kim Kirkland, a store owner.

Now, following months of pleading by struggling merchants, the city has decided to create a committee dedicated to thinking up and implementing a plan to revitalize the street.

"Our biggest concern is keeping our momentum going and drawing people down here and continuing to be a Hill Country destination," said Russell Buster, a committee member and area business owner.

The committee's has goals are to increase foot traffic, bring in revenue and to make sure no more stores shutdown, leaving empty storefronts

Focus will also be placed on improving infrastructure.

"They're going to talk a lot about sidewalks and signage and road," said Shannon Heep, executive director of the Historic Main Street Association .

Heep has spent months fighting to bring tourism to the area.

She, along with business owners, are looking forward to finally employing a comprehensive plan to breathe new life in to the area.

"It's very important to keep all the stores full and productive," said Dortha Coalter, a store owner."

"I like the idea that they are thinking about us and they're looking ahead to the future," said Robin Shorb, a store owner.

It will take a year of research and planning before the committee brings changes to the block, causing concern among already struggling store owners.

"It may be a day late and a day short, there might not be anything to revitalize a year later," Kirkland added.

Businesses owners are banding together in their belief that change must begin today, or their won't be a tomorrow.