The year started off well for businesses downtown, on and around The Square. According to Athens Main Street, downtown Athens had around a 90% occupancy rate, retailers were reporting strong sales and restaurants were packed on the weekends after being steady throughout the week. âAthens Main Street had six or eight separate serious inquires on finding buildings to open new restaurants,â said the group in a release. âAthens Main Streetâs design team was busy helping our merchants with signage and façade assistance. In February, we held a record-setting Chocolate Walk.â Then March came along, and COVID-19 came with it. Merchants scrambled to find a way to continue to operate while the country was finding its new normal.