During the fourth quarter of 2008, Main Street in Hyannis had 11 new businesses open their doors.

Chad Doe of Code Realty in Osterville redeveloped 55,000 square feet of commercial space, 75 percent of which was empty. Now it is thriving with professional offices, an expanded Community College Campus, a fitness club and other spinoff services, according to the nonprofit group, The Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District.

In other locations along Main Street, since November, three new salons, a music school and most recently a newspaper have opened.  Also, the largest hotel on Main Street was purchased in late October.

"Main Street, Hyannis is well positioned to not only withstand this down-turn, but to emerge stronger," said Doe. "Because Main Street is a business improvement district and has good zoning we are able to attract new investors and reinvestment, such as with Café Colombo’s."

Main Street, Hyannis is experiencing a renaissance with a sustained 3 percent vacancy rate. There are slightly more than 200 store fronts equaling 700,000 square feet of first-floor retail and office space.