Anthropologie is now open at the southwest corner of Montgomery and Congress streets.
When I dropped by on Sunday afternoon, the store was humming with activity. There were obviously some serious shoppers, as well as some other curious browsers like me.
Occupying a key corner and empty for more than a decade, the building has long been a drag on downtown commerce and has degraded the pedestrian experience in the City Market area. But no longer.
Some of the old stucco has been preserved on Anthropologie’s exterior brick walls.
The interior has a studied rustic quality. The wood floors have been left roughly finished and light-colored. The walls are largely brick, and the woodwork in the ceilings has been left exposed. Large windows face north and west.
There’s a lovely staircase to the second floor.
Anthropologie is primarily a women’s boutique, but the store is dotted with displays featuring books, home goods, kitchen items and other eclectic stock. Nothing feels crowded or forced.
The entry is on the Montgomery Street side of the building. That’s an interesting choice — and good news for Broughton Street.
Some customers leaving Anthropologie will see Marc by Marc Jacobs right next door and Zia Boutique across Broughton Street.
And folks wandering City Market will now be lured just a little bit further west and south. They will be much more likely to venture to Broughton Street than they used to be.
Anthropologie’s presence might also bring some needed attention to Franklin Square, which does not appear as well kept as other squares. And it’s worth noting that few of the surrounding lots embrace their views of the square.
There are parking lots on its north side, and the large vacant building that was formerly home to Universe Trading Co. occupies one of the trust lots on the west side of the square.
The stately and historic First African Baptist Church occupies the other trust lot on the west side. It’s an important building, but it doesn’t generate a lot of activity on weekdays or at night.
On the east side of Franklin Square in City Market, Belford’s doesn’t have any windows facing the square. Vinnie Van Go-Go’s, on the other hand, takes good advantage of the view of the trees.
The overall effect is that the square itself seems somewhat disconnected from the buildings around it.
The benches in Franklin Square heighten the sense of insularity by focusing the gaze inward rather than outward.
Now that Anthropologie will be luring additional pedestrians to walk by and through Franklin Square, I think it’s time to consider a new design. At minimum, it’s time to spruce up the landscaping.
City Talk appears every Sunday and Tuesday. Bill Dawers can be reached via billdawers@comcast.net and http://www.billdawers.com. Send mail to 10 E. 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31401.