PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — For decades, Pensacola's quiet downtown was overlooked by tourists lured instead to the sugary white sands of the nearby beaches. But a major push to revitalize the long-neglected business and office district is slowly bringing visitors back downtown.
Upscale eateries and wine bars have replaced the strip clubs and pool halls that once lined the city's main drag. Young sailors from nearby Pensacola Naval Air Station still frequent the area, but nowadays are often lured by the family friendly art and music scene rather than the bars. And a new minor-league baseball stadium draws thousands of fans to downtown's once-dilapidated waterfront.
Gallery nights attract up to 15,000 visitors each of the seven Fridays a year they are held. Weekly outdoor musical evenings in a downtown park draw up to 8,000 visitors each night .The baseball stadium averages about 6,000 fans each home game.
"In the last five years, I've never seen this much growth in Pensacola," said Nick Schuck, who owns a business giving Segway and bike tours of the downtown.
Schuck's business has nearly tripled in the one year he has been open as thousands flock downtown for the various events.
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