New businesses seem to be popping up every day in downtown Knoxville.
The new surge comes after a noticeable amount of vacancies, especially on Gay Street.
Sitting between the shiny new signs of brand new stores on that main stretch of downtown are strong businesses that have called downtown home for 15 to 20 years, and some even more.
But downtown wasn't cool when some of these now downtown staples moved in.
"We wanted to be part of the downtown revitalization project that was a really exciting time for downtown Knoxville right around the turn of 2000," said Scott Schimmel.
He and his wife opened their store, Bliss, in Market Square 15 years ago.
That one store grew to two, and now Bliss and Tori Mason Shoes are in a bigger space on Gay Street.
Schimmel has watched the layout of downtown change for years.
"It's really exciting to see all the new merchants coming in," he said. "Definitely there are more and more [businesses], if we do lose one it seems like we gain three."
In just the past five years, there's been tremendous growth.
Suttree's High Gravity Tavern opened in 2012.
Manager George Talley said even then, downtown still wasn't quite the hot spot.
"Half the businesses on Gay Street probably didn't exist," he said. "We were one of the few options, one of the few reasons to come downtown.."
But now, businesses just keep coming.
Old City Wine Bar is expanding, adding a kitchen for new restaurant Rebel Kitchen.
Blackhorse Brewery and Cruze Farm opened on Gay Street earlier this month.
"The atmosphere keeps drawing everybody in, it drew us in, we love it and I think customers really love it down here," said Gemma Pierce, shift leader at Cruze Farm. "They love to get dinner, watch a movie and of course come get ice cream."
The secret to running a successful business downtown?
"Believe in what you are selling, what your product is or your service, and really enjoy it," said Schimmel.
"Always having a good smile and good attitude, keep customers coming in," said Pierce.
"Buckle in because it's not gonna slow down any time soon," said Talley.
The next business to be on the look out for is Clinch River Brewing.
The Norris-based brewery is opening its second location in the Holston Building on Gay Street next to Krutch Park. They're hiring all positions now.