After much anticipation in the downtown community, a new apartment complex has opened in Harrisonburg.

Hundreds of people will move into Urban Exchange over the next few months, bringing a boost to the downtown economy.

In the shadow of this major development is Franklin's Cafe and Wine Bar. Howard Wiener's family opened the restaurant in December.

"The Urban Exchange played a big part in where I chose my location," says Wiener.

Not only is his family starting a business in the midst of a recession, he's waited several months for the neighbors to move in.

"It's definitely been challenging, trying to get the people off the Main Street mentality, where they just go up and down Main Street and choose from the restaurants there," says Wiener.

Soon, 194 apartments will be filled with people with money to spend. At least, that's something for which business owners have hope.

"This isn't strictly young professionals. It isn't strictly student housing. It has all different kinds of demographics involved," says Alexis Morehouse, promotions manager for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.

She says that's a selling point to getting more businesses to move in. Things, such as a grocery store, are still missing from downtown life.

"I'm used to driving for whatever I need. That would be awesome. If I could walk to a grocery store, I'd love it," says Chistina Johnson, a James Madison University graduate student moving into Urban Exchange.

"The downtown area has a lot to offer. I'm really big into the downtown farmer's market, and I think a lot of students are starting to head to that," says Sarah Cunningham, another JMU student moving into Urban Exchange.

"It makes it easier for us to go into those negotiations and talk with those developers and those business owners to have additional amenities in the downtown district," says Morehouse.

For now at least, increased business for the shops already here.

"The demographics of the people moving in seem to fit right in to what we're looking for as clientele," says Wiener.

The west wing of the apartment complex opens next month. Property managers say people will move in at a staggered pace through October.

Managers also say they haven't finalized deals for what businesses will go in the ground floor at Urban Exchange.