GTV NEWS: EASTOWN IS BACK

An estimated 10,000 people and 94 vendors packed the streets of Eastown, Saturday for the 38th anual street fair, according to organizers.

The 'Yesterdog' eating contest, free hookah hits and musical acts on three different stages all added to the appeal. But according to Eastown residents, there was more to celebrate; change.

"Eastown [used to be] a lot worse than it is now," Jared Smitter said. "It's cleaned up over the years. I'm happy to say we still have the diversity... but it's a wonderful part of town."

Smitter's father has owned Smitty's Specialty Beverage for 30 years. According to them, business has been so good lately, they need to expand.

"We're gonna dip into the produce section try to get a little business out of that," Smitter said.

They, along with their neighboring business, The New Yorker Men's Wear, attribute a drop in crime to their spike in business lately.

"In the old days, there was a lot of crime around the area but its totally clean now," Albert Koussain said. "No more break-ins or anything like that."

Both owners told 24 Hour News 8, they see more faces they don't recognize -- including a younger clientele.

They appreciate the new customers.

"Crime has been down here over the past several years and I think it's on the upward swing," said GRPD officer Jeremy Huffman.

"I think a lot of community involvement, a great neighborhood association, and a business association that gets involved when issues come on is very helpful," Officer Huffman said.

" A couple blocks down, 15 years ago was really drug infested," lifetime Eastown resident Victor Williams said. "A lot of gang activity [was] going on in that part of the neighborhood and it would creep down this way every so often."

But now, the man who's lived here since the 1970s told 24 Hour News 8 he's grateful for the change.

"It's awesome to be able to see everybody take part in the lifestyle and the culture that Eastown presents," Williams said.