Everyone knows North Gate has slowly diminished over the past few years. Some say the area is not worth saving – except for parking space. Some businesses, however, are opening – slowly – and the North Gate Festival was here to welcome them this past weekend. The free festival – created three years ago by the North Gate Merchants Association – is intended to bring attention to the former Tiger Town. Food, live music, beer and door prizes accompanied the outdoor event. The festival’s goal is to highlight the merchants of North Gate, as well as entertain. Most businesses participated. If North Gate is not “saved,” a big part of the University will be lost. If it turns into a ghost town with boarded doors and windows, a reasonable chunk of culture will be taken from the students. If students and alumni do not acknowledge the importance of the North Gate tradition and what this festival is trying to do, I consider them traitors to the community. As a former resident of Chimes Street, I fully enjoyed the informality. Everything I needed was close and readily available. And I am an advocate of putting money back into the local economy. I try to shop at local clothing stores and avoid Wal-Mart at all costs. North Gate is the best place for me to do that. When I used to eat meat, I would frequent Cane’s on an intoxicated night. And since I was within walking distance, I was protected from getting a DWI. Also, the Varsity Theatre spotlighted artists I enjoyed, and Highland Coffees helped me concentrate before a test. The Chimes has welcomed my Sunday mornings with its brunch. Blockbuster was very close and convenient, although it never helped me meet the rental deadline. I would rather buy textbooks at Chimes Textbook Exchange. Inga’s Subs and Salads is better than Subway, in my opinion. Louie’s was cheap, fast and open all the time. And it’s not just that everything is close. Everyone is so personable as well. I study at Highland Coffees rather than Starbucks for many reasons. My No. 1 reason – and the only one I will mention – is every employee is so nice. I cannot count the times I have had an encounter with a disgruntled Taco Bell employee. But never at this coffee shop. One time at Highland, my credit card was declined, and the young lady behind the counter smiled and urged me to take the coffee on the house. I was flabbergasted but pleased. They have had my loyalty ever since. The area’s orientation to the campus will attribute to its future success. Students are drawn to the area simply by sight. It is evident most of the money going into North Gate is from students’ wallets. — or from students’ parents’ wallets. Let’s face it, North Gate would be nothing without the University. This attention is critical. When any area depletes, it is quite difficult to raise it up. A “boom and bust” cycle can have dramatic effects on the neighborhood. When businesses come, open and fail, the area is left as fragile and empty as before. Several businesses have opened in the historical area and have failed. Criticism has followed the openings of chain establishments. I agree. Although a chain business has experience and higher success rates, it takes away from the tradition and unique fashion of the area. Reginelli’s of New Orleans is pushing the limit, no matter its positive reputation around campus. The new merchants in North Gate have great potential because the area is so unique and nothing like it exists around campus. Construction is being completed around other “gates” of campus, but none will have the history of North Gate. With age comes history, and with history comes respect. Chipping paint, cracked sidewalks and barred windows don’t give a welcoming air. The quaint stores, fresh brewed coffee and culture do, however. To find it, take time to stop and chat with people. What you will find is definitely worth saving.
—-Contact Ashley Norsworthy at [email protected]