PINE BLUFF, Ark. (KTHV) -- Another business in the downtown area of Pine Bluff announced its closure on Tuesday. It was learned today the Bank of America will close this September.
One of the two sections of Main St. has been closed since two buildings collapsed last year.
This has been deterring people from visiting the downtown area, and with the closures of businesses, locals wonder when or if the area will come back to life.
Inside Pop's Barber Shop is a friendly atmosphere where a hair trim is not all that goes around.
“They just took 10 years off of me,” laughed J.D. Smith, a local patron.
It's also a place of laughter and good conversation.
"I'm going to go back to the 60s," added Smith.
J.D. Smith has lived in Pine Bluff his entire life and remembers downtown from a different era. A downtown area that once lit up, has become what these locals call, ‘a ghost town.’
"Notice the traffic stop moving, business start going slowly, you don't realize it at the time but as time progresses you realize wow, this place gone this place gone,” said Stevie Turner of Pop’s Barber Shop.
Now, Pop's Barber Shop is one of the only businesses left downtown as most have closed their doors.
"That’s five or six good businesses just gone,” added Smith.
Most recently, the news of the closing of Bank of America has Turner upset.
“That’s the one I go to all the time, downtown, so that's going to be a big loss,” lamented Turner.
City leaders are hoping to bring downtown back to life. Recently, four buildings were demolished by a private investor saving the city at least $400,000.
“We need some investors. Somebody with some money who will come in and invest,” said Smith.
While the barber shop has been slow and seen a decrease in customers, it's still open with no plans to close, and these folks have hope for the future of downtown.
“It’s hope. If things pick back up it can happen,” concluded Smith.
City leaders say this portion of Main St. should at least partially reopen within the next week, while the closure between sixth and eighth is awaiting a September court date.