Downtown Macon is on track to add more new business this year than last, according to Main Street Macon Manager Mechel McKinley.

She says in the next couple of months she's expecting 10 to 12 stores or restaurants to open, while all of last year there were 19 new businesses.

One week ago Tabatha Lance opened Pink Chief Boutique on Third Street.

"I've always loved downtown Macon, so I just thought this would be a great place to open a boutique and reach a bunch of different people," said Lance.

She said she chose downtown Macon to house her new business because she sees opportunity there.

"Everything's getting turned around down here with the lofts being built and other people are taking chances too and that makes me feel a little bit more comfortable," she said.

Just around the corner several other new signs fill the store fronts. That includes Cherry Street Hookah where the manger said he loves the feel of downtown Macon and has already seen a good response from customers.

"This year we will definitely see more businesses open in downtown," said McKinley.

She said the boost in business comes from the economy improving, and business owners anticipating more people moving downtown in the new lofts.

"I think what it means is that downtown is the place to be," she said. "People want to be here. It's an exciting place."

But downtown Macon is not for everyone. Several businesses have also recently closed up shop and moved elsewhere.

"It wasn't something that like we really wanted to do," said Ginger Michelle owner Grace Anderson. "We loved the atmosphere. We loved downtown, but business wise we needed to do it."

She said they had been downtown for 11 years when they decided to shift north to Bass Road, and since then she says sales have increased.

"100 percent they've improved. We saw an improvement within the first week," said Anderson.

Even though she's changed locations, Anderson says she's glad to hear downtown's gaining new businesses.

For those who just opened up like Lance, she said she's looking forward to adding something new to downtown Macon.

McKinley did not have the number of businesses that had closed or left downtown this year, but besides Ginger Michelle, we know Three Brothers Cheesecake Company also moved to Warner Robins.

Owner Gregory Wade, Sr. says they moved because of what he called "politics" surrounding owning a business downtown.