Some Willow St businesses say they are still struggling while newer stores in the area say the city's bus terminal has helped trade.
It has been nearly two years since Willow St was referred to as a retail "wasteland" by Tauranga city councillor Murray Guy with businesses reeling from the establishment of the bus terminal.
Ben Tuck, of Broncos Outdoors, said the bus terminal had since attracted delinquents and transients who created "a lot of problems".
"We see the police down here regularly. Our shoplifting rate has increased slightly," he said.
"We have to really keep an eye on the shop whereas before we didn't really have to."
When the bus terminal works began in July 2010, Mr Tuck forecast a 30 per cent loss for the store. The loss was actually 71 per cent, he said.
"If there was ever a bus stop around again, I wouldn't go near it."
The store had since established a stronger online following and become more specialist in its services and products, Mr Tuck said. "We had to. We have become very internet-driven and we have got a lot of business online."
Mr Tuck said he anticipated other Willow St retailers would eventually move away. "It's really sad, but that's the way."
Former Willow St stores Stoney Creek, Poppies and The Goldsmith closed within weeks of each other during the bus terminal move. This week women's fashion store Update and Laurie Young's Menswear were closing their doors.
Richard Young, who owns Wright Sports with his wife Sandra, said it was hard to blame Willow St's struggling retail environment on just the buses when parking posed an issue also.
"There's no doubt it's a tough environment but I think the biggest problem with that is the lost stores. Between us and Bivouac will be three empty stores by the end of the week. And Laurie Young across the road is closing up this week," he said.
"We are going to be very lonely down here."
Mr Young said the best thing to happen would be for more retail stores to open in the area and help complement existing stores and create an exciting shopping area.
William Tulloch, of Limelight china and giftware, moved into Willow St in September 2011 and he said the buses had been brilliant for business.
"I've found it very good. We get lots of people going to the buses, they come in and buy things. They leave them here and pick them up on the way back."
The biggest problem was parking, Mr Tulloch said.
"Doesn't matter what you say, as soon as they do something about the parking, the sooner people will come back into town."
Free Saturday parking in downtown Tauranga began on July 1, 2011, but there has been divided opinion about the amount of parking available in light of redevelopment of The Strand reclamation carpark.
Glenn Tuck, chairman of Downtown Tauranga, said he and other city stakeholders met last week to discuss ways to rejuvenate the central business district.
Several projects were now in the works that would have a "direct impact on Willow St", Glenn Tuck said.
However, it was too early to release any details of these, he said.
"The city is hurting from Psa, whether they want to admit it or not ... the Rena had only a short-term affect [by comparison].
"Personally I think the city is starting to turn the corner. There's more foot traffic than in other years, which is a plus. If you have more people around they are more likely to shop."
A spokesman from Bivouac Outdoors could not be contacted and a spokeswoman from Molyneux Jewellers declined to comment.