The College Row shopping of the North Gate area saw a large number of developments during the 2010-11 school year, and developers say they believe it will continue.
In November, the North Gate Merchants Association closed down the entire block of West Chimes Street from Infirmary Road to Highland Road on a Friday night for its sixth annual North Gate Fest.
The festival offered residents food from Louie’s Cafe and Taco de Paco, a display of local art called “Stabbed in the Art” in front of clothing store Storyville and music from bands He Bleeds Fireman, Stage Coach Bandits and Twin Killers.
Clarke Cadzow, owner of Highland Coffees and member of the North Gate Merchants Association, spoke with The Daily Reveille for a story published Nov. 7.
“The reason [North Gate Fest began] originally was just to have a fun, safe, outdoor event to highlight the character of the neighborhood,” Cadzow said. “We’ve put a lot of time in to make it right.”
The event kicked off with a “fun run” through campus, which was part of the North Gate Merchants Association’s plan to make the event enjoyable to all ages, Cadzow said.
When students returned to the University after winter break, they may have been surprised to find that the North Gate area had developed even further since they left.
Cadzow said some of the area’s new assets included a PJ’s Coffee, new sidewalks and a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant.
Nick Hingle, a manager at Buffalo Wild Wings on Highland, said he has seen positive responses from students since the restaurant opened in January.
Hingle said he’s glad the area around the new restaurant is developing so rapidly.
“I remember years ago, there wasn’t much to do here,” he said. “This is definitely a good thing.”
 
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Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]