Merchants hoping concert hall makes Rockport a year-round draw

They have friends in Rockport and enjoy the town, Mark Meyer said, adding: “We like to come in the winter. We like the desolation of it.’’

For years, the very real perception of Rockport’s retail and restaurant business center has been that it not only rolls up the sidewalk when the sun goes down, but also shutters the windows and goes to Florida for the winter.

That desolation may not last for too many winters more. For many, the goal is to not just help business bustle more during the tourist season, but to turn the downtown into a year-round enterprise. Those with that vision include the Rockport Economic Development Committee and the Rockport Division of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.

“I don’t quite understand it,’’ said Kelly Hochsprung, one of the merchants who remains open year-round. “I’m from New York; it’s cold there, too. The state of Maine doesn’t close.’’

It was part of the motivation for the town to change its bylaws in 2005 and allow restaurants to sell alcohol, with restrictions. It was also the reason that in June the Board of Selectmen voted to revise the town’s liquor rules to make them less restrictive, albeit still more restrictive than in many towns.

(Customers are now permitted to order drinks with appetizers, buy beverages without food if they are waiting for a table, and take home a “wine doggy bag.’’ Restaurants may serve until 11:30 p.m.)

Another part of the evolution is the Shalin Liu Performance Center, which opened in June 2010. By drawing patrons to shows, the performance hall is one of the things that business leaders hope will create a more diversified and more interesting downtown.

Peter Beacham, chairman of the town’s Economic Development Committee, said a strong downtown makes the town more appealing to younger home buyers, raises the value of houses, and provides more work for local tradespeople.

“It creates a more complete package for people who live here,’’ said Beacham, who said the next step is to add more good restaurants and to persuade some downtown restaurants to stay open in January and February.