BUSINESS ENTRANCES OFF THE SIDE OR REAR OF BUILDING

If some of your downtown businesses have secondary entrances, encourage owners to place signs and other identifying marks to help customers find them and make them feel welcome.  Many downtowns have public parking lots, public alleys or walk ways behind their downtown buildings.  For the sake of those visiting for the first time  make every entrance known.  Though not the best; here is an example of a secondary entrance (will find additional / better examples as the opportunity presents itself).

BUSINESS STORE FRONTS:

A city zoning code that allows flexibility in the types of buildings designs in its downtown may be able to lure a variety of interesting architecture, colors, etc.  Creativity in your downtown's appearance has a potential to set your downtown apart from anyone else within the region.  Pinterest (among other sites) is a great place to see what's out there.  It's worth considering:

https://www.pinterest.com/tarudesign/store-front/