I walked through Ellsworth Drive yesterday evening, taking a shortcut in by the movie theater and exiting near Panera. Honestly, it felt awful and, in my humble opinion, downright depressing.
The street level storefronts and surroundings look worn and faded, and the overall vibe just feels sad. The once vibrant fountain area where kids used to run and splash has been gone for several years, replaced by what looks like an upright cage with a few lights.
The Roaming Rooster was empty, and only a few gentlemen were sitting inside Panera. It was hard not to think about how much potential this area once had and how little life it seems to have today.
I remember going back to the days when there was green Astroturf where Veterans Plaza is now. Back then, Ellsworth Drive actually felt like a special destination.
There have been several attempts to breathe new life into the area over the years, but nothing seems to have truly stuck.
Who owns the entire Ellsworth Place, Drive campus now? Have they simply given up on the property as the neighborhood, retail environment, and consumer trends have changed?
I’d genuinely like to hear what others think. Does Ellsworth Place still have a future, or has it become a place everyone has simply written off?