MARSHALL — It had been a difficult time for the Coco Avenue boutique, Laura Guza-Antony said.

“I just think the economy had a lot to do with it,” she said. “Since COVID, how people shop has changed.” To top things off, this past winter was a terrible one for retail shopping, she said.

Guza-Antony said all those factors weighed in on the decision to close Coco Avenue. At the end of August, she announced on social media that the Marshall business would be closing, although there wasn’t a set closing date.

Coco Avenue wasn’t the only Main Street business to close this summer. But while boutiques like Coco Avenue and Tattle Tales announced that they would be shutting their doors in Marshall, there are also businesses moving in downtown this fall.

“Downtown is a special place in Marshall. There’s a lot of history here,” said Jett Wing. Wing is starting an axe-throwing business, which will be located in the New Atlantic Hotel and Mercantile building on Main Street. Wing said he hoped to have an opening date of Nov. 1.

Trisha Schaar, a financial advisor with Echelon Wealth Partners in Marshall, said Echelon was also excited to be moving to the Mercantile building.

“It was a great location to be part of,” Schaar said. “There’s been so much new energy there.” Echelon also hopes to be up and running in new offices in November, she said.

Marshall Economic Development Authority Director Lauren Deutz said she was optimistic that downtown vacancies will fill up.

“Marshall as a whole is a very desirable retail community,” she said.

Marshall’s downtown has seen some changes this summer and fall, including some business closures. Nettie’s décor and gift shop closed down its Third Street storefront this summer. However, owner Jen Griebel has continued her business, focusing on pouring scented candles. Nettie’s candles are available at Nessa’s Naturals in Marshall.

Tattle Tales, a children’s and maternity boutique, closed its Main Street shop after being in business more than seven years. In August, founder Beth Blomme announced that Tattle Tales would be passing on to a new owner, Sidney Fultz of Tracy. A grand opening for a new Tattle Tales location, on Third Street in Tracy, is planned for October 2.

Coco Avenue, which offered clothing, consignment items and unique furnishings, was in business on Main Street for nine years. However, Guza-Antony said after the COVID pandemic, shoppers tended to be interested in more casual clothing, and to do more shopping online.

Although the decision to close Coco Avenue was a hard one, Guza-Antony said the support the community has shown the business and staff has been positive.

“We had such a great following in the community,” she said. “The comments have been really heartwarming.”

Guza-Antony said Coco Avenue would be selling the consignment part of the business, which had been doing well.

Deutz said recent business closings didn’t necessarily mean something unusual was going on downtown. Factors like changes in consumer spending habits have an impact on local businesses, she said.

“Retail is difficult, and changes like workforce and online shopping can really take a toll on the business owner,” Deutz said. “This is a great reminder to shop local and help keep these businesses alive and thriving.”

Deutz said Coco Avenue and Tattle Tales would be “greatly missed.”

“We appreciate their years of hard work and dedication to our community,” she said. “We are very fortunate to have a vibrant downtown filled with generational and long-standing retail fronts which make it an attractive place to be.”

This year has also seen businesses moving into spaces downtown or changing owners. Some of the new businesses moving in have included True Journey financial advisers on Main Street, and the 507 Lash Spa on Third Street. The former Thrifty White drugstore on Main Street has also been under construction, with new signs revealing the name La Tapatia Grocery Store. La Tapatia owners declined to comment Friday on when the new store will be opening.

Two Marshall businesses – one new, and one established – will be filling out the last vacant spots in the Mercantile building, near the corner of Main Street and East College Drive. Jett Wing said Wings Axe Company will feature nine lanes where customers can try axe throwing, plus a full bar and food options.

Wing, a Marshall native, said the idea for Wings Axe Company came to him when he was pitching business ideas as a member of the Lyon and Murray County CEO program. “People really took to it,” he said of the idea.

Wings Axe Company will be on the side of the Mercantile building facing the Redwood River. Wing said it was a good place to bring something new to downtown, and it had a good atmosphere.

“It’s just a nice area,” he said. “It gives it kind of a unique outdoor patio space.”

Echelon Wealth Partners is also planning to move from offices on East Main Street into the Mercantile building. Schaar said work is currently going on to frame out and finish offices for their business.

“We are a private wealth advisory practice with Ameriprise Financial Services,” Schaar said. Ameriprise Financial has had a presence in Marshall for more than 25 years. About 12 years ago, they teamed up with Echelon Wealth Partners, which has offices in locations including Duluth, Grand Rapids, Rochester and Red Wing in Minnesota, and Decorah, Iowa, Schaar said.

Schaar said the partnership with Echelon brings together more financial advisors and experts to serve clients.

Echelon Wealth Partners in Marshall are excited to move downtown, Schaar said. “It’s going to give us a lot more space,” and the location was a good one, she said.

In addition to businesses moving to Main Street, other downtown businesses have moved or changed ownership in the past year. Southwest Glass Center moved from Main Street to a new location in Marshall’s industrial park. Meanwhile, Wilson O’Brien Realtors has opened an office on West Main Street. Marshall Cleaning Services has opened under new owners Nino and Yia Xiong at the corner of Main and Fifth Street. And the Mariachi Fiesta restaurant on Main Street welcomed new owners Eloy and Lizeth Cid in July.

There may be more new businesses moving into downtown locations in the future, Deutz said. The Marshall EDA was working closely with building owners and was reaching out to potential tenants to fill recent vacancies, she said.

Overall, Marshall draws people in to shop in the community, which makes it a good retail location, she said.

“In addition, recent updates to store fronts and the reconstruction of Third Street makes downtown a more attractive, community friendly place to locate,” Deutz said. She said the EDA was optimistic that downtown vacancies would be filled.