SPARTANBURG \u2014 With some downtown restaurants reporting falling foot traffic<\/a>, including recently closed Smoking Butt Heads BBQ, the city of Spartanburg<\/a> has announced a new music series intended to help businesses along Wall Street.<\/p>\n The small-scale events will be held each Wednesday from August to October, the city announced last week<\/a> on social media. Details are still being worked out with the help of nearby businesses, city spokesperson Christopher George said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to make sure that the hours are right for them. We want to make sure that the format is right for them,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause this is really all about supporting those businesses during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Wall Street, the pedestrian-only alley that connects Broad Street to the western edge of Morgan Square,<\/a> used to have natural foot traffic, George said. He called it a major pedestrian access point to both Morgan Square and the larger downtown area.<\/p>\n That changed when construction took over the area, with a new city-county complex<\/a>, a hotel and other projects<\/a> that are part of more than a half-billion dollars in development<\/a> in the heart of the city. Foot traffic will return, he said, but it\u2019s \u201cgoing to be a little while\u201d before people are living and parking across the street again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Construction is ongoing at what will be the new city-county complex, part of more than a half-billion dollars in development in downtown Spartanburg.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n In the meantime, the city is looking to give people a reason to visit the street, he said.<\/p>\n The events will be held the day before Music on Main, which happens each Thursday at the Morgan Square stage, but George said the two will be very different experiences.<\/p>\n Instead of a concert with a full band and a big sound system, the performances on Wall Street each Wednesday will be smaller, more intimate and allow people to enjoy the space itself, he said. The idea is that each performance \u201ccreates some ambiance and makes it a more welcoming space.\u201d<\/p>\n There could also be more attractions than just music, but that will be decided with the help of nearby businesses. City officials are set to meet with them Monday to iron out some details of the event.<\/p>\n George declined to share when in the day the events would be held, saying he\u2019d rather wait to hear from the nearby businesses on what they would like to see. But the city is asking local performers<\/a> interested in participating to sign up<\/a>, with two time slots available: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.<\/p>\n The city is involving the nearby businesses, George said, so the events can be tailored to their needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Even early promotion of the event is helping shine a light on the restaurants along Wall Street. The city\u2019s announcement post specifically notes The SamMitch Shop, Ali Baba and Health in Hand as places to grab food or drinks to enjoy during the entertainment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A shuttle waits Wednesday, July 22, on Morgan Square near Wall Street, part of the city’s attempt to blunt the effects of construction and reduced parking on downtown Spartanburg.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n
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