HISTORY

In the early 1970's, Belk Department Store moved out of downtown Concord to a newly constructed building where Carolina Mall is located today. Sears and Penney's soon followed. The city's once bustling downtown area suffered. By the early 1980's downtown was filled with empty buildings, deteriorating real estate values, and the public perception was that downtown Concord was in a state of decline.

Downtown merchants found themselves unable to compete with the mall. They turned to the Concord-Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce. In 1973, a merchants association, Downtown Concord Revitalization Committee, was formed. For more than a decade this committee instigated many projects and experienced periods of inactivity .In the late 1980's. the committee decided to pursue participation in the North Carolina Main Street program. At the same time, the City of Concord began a streetscape improvement program. The city pledged financial support of a non-profit corporation and endorsed the establishment of a municipal service district. In 1990, Concord was designated as a North Carolina Main Street community . The Concord Downtown Redevelopment Corporation [CDRC] was formed as a non-profit corporation with the mission of implementing the Main Street four-point approach to revitalization. In 1995, CDRC's name was changed to Concord Downtown Development Corporation [CDDC].

Through the efforts of Concord's Main Street program and the City of Concord, the city's central business district is now attractive and thriving rather than just surviving. Today, downtown supports a healthy and diverse professional and retail economy. With an increase in economic activity, a renewed sense of vitality has occurred.