Broughton Street

Broughton Street Review

Savannah's "main street" has long served as a shopping and social hub, and so an indicator of the changing economic and demographical trends over the city's history. The first of Savannah's department stores, Adler's and Levy's, emerged on Broughton, followed by the post-WWII introduction of national chains Sears & Roebuck, JCPenney, and Kress. During the 1950s, ladies donning white gloves and heels did their shopping, while kids gathered at the soda counter or caught the matinee. Downtown's decline began in the late 1950s and continued through the '70s, during which time for-sale signs and boarded-up storefronts were the norm rather than the exception. Today, Broughton is again thriving, not only with local boutiques and world-class shops, but with theaters, restaurants, and coffeehouses. A handful of new and renovated storefronts open for business each year, as the retail thoroughfare continues to reemerge. Vogue's annual Fashion's Night Out, a grand fete for retailers that takes place in early September, began here in 2011. Broughton closes to vehicle traffic for the premier event; highlights include a series of in-street runway shows and concert performances.