[media-credit name=’MEGHAN CONLIN/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]State Street shoppers will see some local retail stores leaving the area. After recent closings of The Den and Venecia Imports, students will soon see Dick and Jane and Famous Footwear close in upcoming months.

Jennifer Van Wart, owner of Dick and Jane, said the store's location and student market does not fit the target business.

"The general State Street environment wasn't for us," she said. "It isn't where we were thriving."

She added more time and attention will be spent on Dick and Jane's sister store Twiggs, located on Monroe Street.

Famous Footwear will be closing because of a corporate judgment made on the available space of the store, according to spokesperson Erin Conroy.

"We've been talking to customers about what they wanted to see," she said. "The size and scope of our State Street store doesn't accommodate what we wanted."

Conroy said company research revealed a want for wider aisles for families shopping together.

Susan Schmidt, president of Downtown Madison Incorporated — a city organization involved with downtown revitalization projects — said the closing of the two stores is part of a normal business trend.

"People sometimes say stores are closing and it's so bad," she said. "But it's normal … the fun thing to think about is what's next."

Schmidt also said there is a significant difference in store locations on the 400 to 600 blocks and 100 to 300 blocks of State Street.

"The street has different characteristics on different areas," she elaborated. "The lower part is driven by students and the higher part is distinctive for families and kids."

According to Schmidt, Dick and Jane's location on the lower block of State Street caused low profits.

State Street Brats manager Kellen Milad said while taxes are high, businesses survive based on the quality of customer service.

"Honestly, if you can't survive on State Street, you're doing something really wrong," he remarked. "There are enough customers and enough people that'll go and buy everything."

Although Milad considers restaurants and bars to be a staple of State Street, athletic clothing store Sports World has been located on the 500 block of State Street for 12 years, and owner John Williamson attributes the store's success to student demand.

"I think a lot of businesses come in and look at the amount of foot traffic and automatically assume they'll be successful," he said. "They don't realize … if they're not oriented to students, they're going to have a tough time."

With consideration to the student market, Schmidt noted clothing store Urban Outfitters caters exactly to demand.

"Urban Outfitters knows that market like the back of their hand," she said. "[Dick and Jane didn't] really fit with what else goes on down there."

Although some businesses are soon closing or already vacant, Schmidt said the reconstruction of State Street will quickly draw other businesses to the area.

"It's not a street that's in anywhere, USA," she said. "It's got a funkiness and uniqueness that people come for … people are attracted to the energy."