It’s hard to find the shops that drew the crowds downtown anymore.

Some, of the more well-known stores, like Maurice’s and LanSirs, have either moved or closed down. The question that remains is, what will become of the vacant spaces?

Maurice’s used to be housed at 260 E. Lincoln Highway but currently resides in the Northland Plaza. LanSirs closed when its owner retired in October.

“Any failure downtown is resulting from an overall change in demand,” said Steve Milner, owner of Milner and Associates. Milner blamed the moves on the changing desires of DeKalb residents.

Milner and Associates is the realtor that is marketing both the old Maurice’s and LanSirs buildings.

“We have shown Maurice’s to a well-known restaurant,” Milner said. He also said that LanSirs is on an attractive corner, and there shouldn’t be a problem looking for a business to fill the spot.

Milner made the suggestion that DeKalb should look at college towns like Normal and Champaign-Urbana.

“They went in and really cut up some open space for parking downtown,” Milner said. He thought that parking space, which is visible to the storefronts, was necessary.

Mayor Greg Sparrow said that there is some talk of somebody looking at LanSirs, but he did not know who. Milner could not divulge which restaurant was interested in the former Maurice’s store.

Heather Forsburgh, executive director of Main Street DeKalb, said the city is looking for something retail related, or a restaurant to fill the gaps downtown. “We depend on the city to do business recruitment,” Forsburgh said.

Forsburgh said the area downtown is more suited for independent businesses than chain stores.