BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- You might call it a sign of the times, an entire block of store fronts in Downtown Bakersfield vacant.

Vacant store fronts aren't exclusive to the one block of 19th Street between Chester Avenue and Eye Street or downtown at all, it's a sign of the economy all over the city, county and country.

"Frankly, I am worried, I don't know how long it will take for a real recovery," Jan Fulton, owner of Spotlight Cafe said.

The Spotlight Cafe has called the Spotlight Theater and 19th Street home for the last six years, but the last year has been a roller coaster of business.

"It's been interesting, because the first few months of the year were really scary," Fulton said. "Then it started picking up and business compared to last year had improved, then October came and things just sort of hit a wall."

Fulton hasn't done anything drastic, but has made cutbacks here and there where customers won't notice.

"We're hanging in there, I'm not making any records," Fulton said.

The same could be said for Jezabelle's Unique Boutique just down the street.

"You do go (through) some good days where it's fabulous and a couple days where it is slow, so that trend is still consistent throughout the year," said owner Christine Hennings.

One consistency of Downtown is how businesses help and root for each other.

Alia Brost just opened Victor Victoria three weeks ago.

What was once a sports bar is now an upscale restaurant serving lunch and slowly opening up for dinner.

And despite the bad economy, Brost sees downtown as a perfect place to open up shop.

"I'm hoping that with me being here, some of the art galleries being here, with the Spotlight Theater being across the street, they do wonderful performances and with the Padre coming, that's a nice, unique draw for people to start coming (downtown)," said Brost.

The Padre Hotel is set to open on New Year's and it's something all business owners ABC 23 spoke to say will help boost their business, as it simply gives people more reasons to come downtown.

"As long as we keep helping each other and keeping trying to do better, we'll be fine," Brost said.

So while times remain tight for some, there is optimism that downtown events will get that foot traffic store and restaurant owners look for.

Tuesday afternoon all of the downtown holiday plans will be revealed at a mixer at Victor Victoria starting with a ribbon cutting at 4:30pm.