 downtown Boston is revitalizing and reinventing itself through new small businesses. Approximately 32 new businesses have opened in downtown Boston since March 2020, including Hobgoblin, a piano bar, and the wig shop a speakeasy for young Boston residents. It's dope. There's a lot of people, you know, a lot of dope fiends doing a lot of crazy stuff, not livestream, so I just walk around, you know, downtown to report all of it. As a result of city grant programs and funding, new businesses have filled vacant storefronts, attracting a younger more celebratory crowd. The Wu administration established a detailed plan to turn downtown Boston into a 24-hour neighborhood after businesses in the area suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic. At her job, Guzman sees the result of Mayor Wu's efforts. Foot traffic remains around 40 to 55 percent below the pre-pandemic levels in a study published by the City of Boston. Although downtown Boston has a meaningful recovery from the pandemic, locals and city officials continue to see improvements. Reporting live from downtown Boston, for BVCB News, I'm Matani Clemens.