Unglued, a small crafting shop in Downtown Sioux Falls, has announced it will be closing its doors this January. The shop’s livey feel and unique crafting items made this sad news a shock to many of their dedicated shoppers, though the news may not be so surprising.

Downtown’s recent track record with small businesses has not been promising. Unglued is already the third shop in the last four months to announce its close, following Lillians and Keller’s Green Grocery. This scary trend highlights the struggle of small business to stay alive in a competitive market, though there are a few possible reasons for this pattern.

Some have speculated that the problem arises from the lack of so called ‘anchor stores,’ or more well known stores that carry necessities. These anchors attract steady customers to the Downtown area, while also supporting the growth of the smaller businesses around it. Luckily a new anchor store is in the works. The new Lewis Drug offers business owners and their clients hope that more potential shoppers will be attracted to the Downtown market.

Others accuse the congested feeling of the Downtown area for the lack of business. The limited parking, confusing streets and busy traffic pushes some people away from embracing the Downtown life, causing a drop in business. Especially in these frigid winter months, few are willing to brave the cold and walk five blocks to reach their favorite boutique.

As Downtown continues to grow, hopefully other small businesses like Unglued can navigate their way to success, and the Downtown dilemma.