Guests in restaurants, shoppers in small businesses, and children capturing photos with Santa Claus were all part of the festive atmosphere on Union Street and other area roads after a streetscape revitalization project crippled the city’s economy during construction.

“Downtown is alive again, and we’re loving it,” said Matt Peterson, manager of The Mullet thrift store, in an interview with The Charlotte Observer.

“Downtown Concord people are starting to feel the energy again,” said Lori Konawalik, co-owner of the Mac Tabby Cat Cafe on Market Street, as customers streamed in and out of the cafe during the day while music filled the air outside. “They see the light at the end of the tunnel. The streets are paved, and the sidewalks are so welcoming. There’s definitely a different energy now.”

Konawalik is one of the business owners who didn’t give up hope during the construction, although other businesses that had called Concord home didn’t fare as well. Anchor restaurant Gianni’s Trattoria left downtown at the end of March, and The Cigar Loft closed in June.

“It was sad a few months ago,” said 18-year-old Concord native Amelia Sexton, a first-year student at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. “I saw shops open and close within three months. The scene is different now.”

Since the streetscape revitalization project ended, new businesses have begun opening their doors. Union Street Cafe and Luxe at the Loft are among two that now call downtown Concord home. More are on the way, including Two Scoops Creamery and Churros Mexican Restaurant, which will open next year. Check out all the most recent updates on their website.