Downtown La Crosse restaurant closes, others open for business - FOX 25/48 - WLAX/WEUX La Crosse & Eau Claire News

LA CROSSE - A BBQ restaurant is going out of business this week in downtown La Crosse.

But as the door to Train Station BBQ closes, many new businesses are opening theirs trying to make a go of it in this tough economy.

It was a tough decision for Dan Thill and his wife, owners of Train Station BBQ to close the business.

"It's like any other major decision. It's never decided in one moment, but with a combination of events," said Thill.

The 6 year business that was famous for its ribs has to close due to financial reasons said Thill.

"We succeeded on a lot of levels, but it just wasn't financially successful. Some good things just don't make it," said Thill.

But as one business in downtown closes some say it seems like two others take its place.

"A large number of new businesses have started up, and many have stuck around over the past couple years," said Director of Downtown Mainstreet Inc. Tim Kabat.

 One of the newer businesses downtown is Cabin Coffee; owner Cathy Bauer says this summer has been a good one.

"[The] downtown community has been vibrant and we've seen an uptick in traffic over the summer. The heat does help but in general we are seeing some pretty good traffic flow in here," said Bauer.

5th street is the area in downtown La Crosse that has been hit the hardest economically with multiple vacancies.

"Store vacancies are down to 30 right now, a last year the number was 45," said Kabat.

Dan Thill, owner of Train Station BBQ says that they will be closing as soon as they sell out of their product which could be Thursday or Friday.