DeKALB | Who’s up for grabbing some burgers and fries at Ditto’s? How about making a pit stop at Spring Garden Restaurant or the Husky Grill & Sports Bar?

While the ears of a hungry person may perk at the mention of such places, all of these west side eateries are no longer in operation. New development is taking place all over DeKalb, but it’s hard to overlook all the vacant areas located along Lincoln Highway, especially those clumped near the west end of the city.

“I actually do wish some new businesses would move into the area,” said Rob Molina, three-year owner of L.A. Tan and Dollar Video, 1127 W. Lincoln Highway. “It’s a bit of an eyesore over here, which can make it harder for businesses on this end to maintain their business.”

Molina said 2006 has been one of the hardest years for Dollar Video and feels most incoming clientele are drawn to the east end of town. He remains optimistic, however, noting the recent purchases of the former Pagliai’s Pizza and Husky Grill & Sports Bar lots. Pagliai’s old site has already undergone demolition.

“It’s the absolute opposite of being negative,” said Paul Rasmussen, economic development administrator for DeKalb. “Since most of the prime locations on Sycamore Road are taken, people are now starting to look toward DeKalb.”

Rasmussen said residents can expect the next big story to take place over on the southwest corner of Taylor Street and Annie Glidden Road, where plans for a future shopping center have been approved.

“Our goal is to reverse the leakage rate and have people spend their money here,” he said. “Six years ago, the leakage rate was 75 percent. That was huge. Now it’s 40 percent, and we’re closing in on our goal.”

DeKalb uses leakage rates, the fraction of money from DeKalb being spent elsewhere, to address the question of where the rest of a consumer’s money is going if it’s not being spent in the area.

“Starbucks has consistently been used across the United States as an indicator on whether a particular place has a healthy economy,” Rasmussen said. “Three years ago there were no Starbucks in DeKalb. Now there are five. For a small town, that’s a lot.”

DeKalb resident Phil Pearson likes the new business developments popping up in DeKalb, but has other hopes for a town inhabited by younger people.

“I think in a university town, you want to see something fresh, original and cutting-edge,” he said. “Not something so corporate like a town dominated by chains and drive-thrus.”