Downtown South Bend to welcome at least 24 new businesses and 346 new housing units in 2024

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - DTSB kicked off February with their Fire and Ice First Friday event that brought hundreds downtown to celebrate the last weekend of winter restaurant week.

Despite all the ice at the event, DTSB says they are on fire. This year they expect to welcome 24 businesses to the area, that's more than in any years past.

DTSB Inc says events like these have helped them attract new businesses Downtown.

Families come out for the fire throwers and ice carvers and stick around for the local shops and eateries.

Thursday, a family run pharmacy, Healthy U Rx, was welcomed to the Commerce Center and this month they plan to welcome two new businesses there.

DTSB says partnering with the city to offer grants to improve curb appeal, and efforts to expand riverfront liquor licenses are attracting new businesses to the area like never before.

One new business, Mixxture, owned and operated by Aksema McGlown celebrated one of its first First Friday events in the Old Ben's Pretzels Location.

Mixxture, just opened its doors at the end if 2023, bringing organic, handmade, cosmetic goods to main street shoppers.

A Downtown Vision meeting is being held February 22 at the St. Joseph County Library to discuss what people hope to see come downtown.

More information on DTSB and their work can be found on their website.

The City of South Bend says over the next year the area will also become home to 346 new housing units, 134 of which will be income restricted affordable.

That number includes 12 units coming to the SOMA building, 90 to Liberty Tower, 150 to Diamond View, 60 to The Monreaux, and 34 to the Lafayette Building.