At first glance, it appears the cheetahs in front of railroad tracks downtown are literally on the run, dodging rubble from the demolition of Old Grey just yards away. Though after the wonderful year Dowagiac has had, perhaps he’s simply trying to keep pace with the city’s development.

“From the opening in February of Hidden Treasures on M-51 South to the demolition in December of the three-story industrial building that for decades served as the backdrop to the central business district, 2015 may go down in the books as being a record-setting year for this community,” said Vickie Phillipson, Chamber of Commerce & DDA program director.

Chamber and city officials gathered almost monthly, as they welcomed new businesses to the community. “With each ribbon cutting ceremony, the buzz around town struck a new cord, especially leading up to the one the entire community was waiting for, the opening of The Baker’s Rhapsody, that took place in early December,” Phillipson said.

During 2015, Dowagiac also welcomed the opening of Electric Mist, Radiant Rogue Games, Contract Land Staff, Art Enah Suit, Auto Zone, Bow Wow Bakery & Bath, Emily Hunter’s pop-up holiday shop and Fair’s Gun ’n Gear, along with the relocation to Front Street of Miss Michele & Co. and Dowagiac IT3.

Reinvestment in Dowagiac’s central business district didn’t stop there.

“Also making headlines were property owners who renovated the interior and exterior of their storefronts, such as Linda Preston, Deb Rohdy, Jeff Neumann and Jordan Anderson,” Phillipson said.

Yet, there were still others who invested in Dowagiac’s future with the purchase of commercial property, such as Lila & David Fair who bought three Penn Avenue buildings; Jessie Charles, who purchased the Dowagiac IT3 building; Cindy and Bob Brosnan, who purchased the Round Oak Restaurant building; Jeff Gunn and Melissa Clanton, who purchased Olympia Books and also The Edward Jones building; and Rob Parker, who purchased the former Dowagiac Daily News building on Spaulding Street.

Meanwhile, the City picked up a few properties of its own, including the former Westrate & Thomas law office and adjacent land containing the Weaver Insurance building, plus a residential site within the same area, all of which set in place the promise of exciting new development, yet to come.