CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Several years ago, Downtown Corpus Christi was struggling to attract locals to the area but now it's an area where the community can come to try the newest restaurants.
"It is very quick and very peaceful to be out in the patio, so people are coming over here to enjoy the view," said Volkan Koc, co-owner of Gallery 41.
A lot of those restaurants are taking advantage of the coastal view by offering outside seating for customers.
"It's amazing to sit outside; we have live music on the weekend," Koc said.
Daniela Campos with Downtown Management District of Corpus Christi said its mission is to help create the most vibrant downtown in the Gulf of Mexico.
"There's a lot of talented culinary artists out here in Corpus Christi and so we're very focused and excited to bring them into downtown and showcase their talent and showcase what they have to offer," Campos said.
Marty McPies owner Martin Flores started his business as a food truck and is excited to expand into a brick and mortar which will also offer outside seating.
"All these new businesses coming in, it's fun and it's bringing downtown back to life," Flores said.
Locals Ray and Cecelia Collway said they enjoy the new restaurants like Gallery 41, that are popping up all over the downtown area.
"The interior of downtown is growing in leaps and bounds right now which is good for the local economy and the business people," Collway said.
As a native, Flores remembers when the area was a bit stale but said that is changing now with new businesses opening up.
"It just feels like we're giving back but we're adding back to the community, a new grocery store down the street, a new music bar," Flores said.
Local Trae Dwyer and his family love coming to downtown to eat and are excited for new restaurants like Marty McPies that are opening up soon.
"The fact that there are spots opening up, good restaurants are opening up it's giving a lot of people something to do downtown," Dwyer said.
The Downtown Management District said in the last fiscal year, 18 new businesses have opened in the area and they expect more businesses to open this year.