By Josh Janney
WINCHESTER — U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) visited the Loudoun Street Mall on Sunday afternoon to talk with local business owners to see how the city’s revitalization efforts are paying off.
His stop was part of a four-day tour through the region, which began Friday and has included visits to Charlottesville, Waynesboro, Woodstock, Harrisonburg and Luray.
"One thing I’ve noticed over the last four to five years is how a lot of small to mid-sized towns are having a rebirth," Warner, 61, said. "I think people want to come back down to the feeling of community."
Warner, who has visited Winchester numerous times over the past 25 years, noted how drastically the downtown has evolved from a "sleepy town" to a place with a thriving nightlife.
"These used to be communities that rolled their sidewalks up at 6 o’clock," he said.
But a major shift in the business market, according to Warner, is that more people are working as entrepreneurs or independent contractors, and younger generations tend to move from place to place more frequently.
"Nobody is going to work at the same place for 40 years anymore," Warner said. "So how do you support a local downtown? How do you support entrepreneurs? I’m trying to work on something that would create an entrepreneurial backbone in communities."
One problem, Warner said, is many of these independent businesses do not offer benefits such as health and retirement plans.
Warner said he supports a move toward portable benefits, which would allow an employee’s benefits to be transferred to a new employer’s plan or to a person leaving the workforce.
"This is where the economy is headed," he said. "A lot of this will start to be experimented on by local communities before it reaches a national level."
Warner began his 45-minute tour of downtown Winchester at Mountain Trails, an outdoor gear store on the Loudoun Street Mall, where he bought a pair of shoes. Other stops included nearby Union Jack Restaurant and Pub, the Village Square Restaurant and the Bright Box, an entertainment venue.
The city completed a $7.1 million renovation of the pedestrian mall in 2013. Improvements included replacing aging water and sewer mains and adding above-ground amenities such as gateway entrances, a splash pad and a public bathroom.
"We really worked to foster an environment where businesses feel welcome," Downtown Manager Jennifer Bell said.
She cited millennials as one of the main instigators of change on the mall, as they want a community atmosphere, along with the presence of strong businesses and activities.
She noted that a few years ago, malls were on the decline due to the availability of products that could be found on the Internet.
"But what you get downtown is the customer services, the interaction," she said. "People are looking for that downtown — the more personal experience."
Garry Green, co-owner of Mountain Trails, which recently moved to the mall, said, "We are thrilled with the traffic that is down here."
Bell added the city has made considerable efforts to ensure there are events on the mall — from a farmers market to live bands — to keep people coming back.
While Warner was talking with people near the splash pad, his press secretary, Rachel Cohen, said he regularly makes these types of trips.
"A lot of his efforts of late have been focusing on the Virginia economy," Cohen said. "In a time when we have fewer federal dollars, we really need to work to diversify the state to do well growing the businesses into the 21st century."
Warner addressed speculation that he is being considered as a potential vice presidential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
"I’m not going to be a candidate for the election," he said.
Warner said he hopes fellow Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine is Clinton’s vice presidential pick.
"I’ve known Tim for 35 years, and he is a solid, trustworthy man," Warner said. "I think he brings executive experience as well as legislative experience."
Today, Warner will be at Valley Health in Winchester for a roundtable discussion with local officials about combatting prescription drug and heroin abuse.
