..."After five it's dead," he said, referring to downtown. "In a pizza business, you need the night crowd, too."
Another problem that faces the downtown businesses right now is a lack of available parking for customers. Vines said all the parallel parking spots in front of the stores get taken up by LabCorp employees, even though there are separate lots for them to park, because they are closer to the actual buildings.
...One plan that the BDC has been talking to Elon University about is the development of a new BioBus route that would run into downtown Burlington and serve as free public transportation. Keith Dimont, the supervisor of automotive services at Elon, said that the plan has been key for students doing community service, and that the Kernodle Center for Service Learning has been instrumental in developing the plan.
"I think it's going to be real successful, because it's a lot of volunteers that like having the free public transportation," he said. "Plus, it gives (the city) the opportunity to expand the downtown Burlington area."
Though the bus route will have a strong emphasis on service work, it will be a chance for students to make the trip to downtown Burlington, where business owners said they would welcome the business. "It seems like a lot of younger people don't venture down here," said Pratt, continuing to say that she and Vines have been in talks with other businesses to offer events that would draw Elon students. ThePendulum, Elon, NC
