Five new town centre businesses have opened in Ottery St Mary in the last few months, with two more expected to open soon.
It comes at a time when many high streets are seeing more and more shops closing down.
Ottery Town Council has welcomed the new businesses and said it's working hard to support local traders.
The newcomers include Grace Hair hairdressers in Mill Street, a Turkish barbers in Broad Street and Julia's Collection, a wedding/special occasions boutique in Hind Street.
Omar's Chicken House opened last week in Broad Street, run by Omar Akbulet whose previous business, the Charcoal Grill Kebab House, has been taken over by a friend.
The former Seasons cafe in Silver Street is expected to reopen soon under new ownership, and a new shop selling gifts, clothes, jewellery, skincare and household accessories is reportedly preparing to open in Mill Street, in a premises that has been vacant for several years.
Ottery's deputy mayor Dean Stewart said: “It is great to see that Ottery is being chosen by businesses to open their shops. We have mostly independently owned establishments, and we see this continuing. Our recent Shop Front Grants brightened up a number of shops, making Ottery St Mary the place to visit and shop.”
In the Shop Front Grants scheme the town council offered grants of up to £500 for shopkeepers to repaint and update their shop fronts. Around £3,000 was awarded.
A Magic Tenner event in October encouraged people to shop with local independent traders.
The Festive Cheer and late-night shopping event at the end of November attracted large numbers of local residents and visitors, with town centre businesses reporting a higher footfall than previous years.
Ottery Town Council is also working with its counterparts in Budleigh Salterton, Honiton, Seaton and Sidmouth on the Coast Meets Country project, in which all five towns benefit from professional digital marketing to visitors. A new Ottery guide will soon be available, to be displayed in all local businesses, visitor attractions, accommodation providers and tourist information points.
Cllr John Green, chair of the town council's Environment, Local Development and Commerce committee, said: The Council are working hard to support the local economy, working with the local business community to make Ottery a place that people want to come and visit. The Council have other projects in the pipeline to continue improving the town for local people and visitors.
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