Toledo's struggling downtown retail district has chalked up two more losses.
Diva, 329 North Huron St., will close March 1 after serving up upscale restaurant fare for seven years.
And Ken's Flower Shops closed its store at Madison Avenue and Huron Street last week.
The metro Toledo chain shut its downtown outlet Friday after completing Valentine's Day deliveries the day before. Ken's has operated a shop downtown for 30 years.
Officials of both businesses cited poor sales.
"It's the economy," said Erika Rapp, Diva chef for the past 2 1/2 years. "Our business has really been falling off the last few months. We don't see it picking up."
The restaurant, which is operated by Jim Zaleski, specializes in contemporary American cuisine. Until closing, it will continue to open at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The restaurant and florist are both near the former Fifth Third Center, whose signature tenant recently left for the nearby One SeaGate office tower.
"We didn't see the number of people we normally get to buy incidental items," said Fred Moor, Ken's vice president. The flower shop was on the building's ground floor.
Diva is next door.
Tom Crothers, executive director of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District, didn't return a call for comment.
The developments are the latest blow to a central business district struggling to deal with the closing of the nonprofit COSI science museum last month and two other restaurant defections since Jan. 1.
Also gone are Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders from the Lasalle Apartments building and Quizno's Subs from the Spitzer Building.
Jackson's Lounge & Grill, operated by retired NBA veteran Jim Jackson at 233 North Huron, closed earlier.
Downtown business owners have complained about a lack of free parking and smaller lunch crowds caused by a decline in downtown employment. They also cite competition from the riverfront Docks district on the east side of the Maumee River.
The downtown area had two floral shops until Bartz Viviano Flower & Gifts shut its shop in the HCR ManorCare building in late 2006.
Ken's vice president said the firm plans to serve downtown customers from remaining stores. Ken's operates four other shops in metro Toledo and a fifth in Ann Arbor.
In the three decades Ken's has been downtown, it operated for a time in another location on Adams Street, Mr. Moor said.
Contact Gary Pakulski at:
gpakulski@theblade.com
or 419-724-6082.
First Published February 20, 2008, 11:14 a.m.
