Why we must all try to spend our money here, in Sheffield and with Sheffielders
If you had the magic wand, the budget of the council or the power they have to bid for external funding - what would you do?
How do love and frustration go so easily hand-in-hand?
The great debate about what the future of the fourth biggest city in the country should look like rumbles and rumbles but rarely progresses.
Most of the best things in town are made up of quirky ideas from dedicated individuals. The kind of great stuff that you can't find in every city and that you really want to support because, not only do they have wonderful things to sell, but every penny goes straight into the pocket of a Sheffielder.
It makes us unique, special, Sheffield.
But, as we all know, it isn't smooth sailing and all voices are not equal.
The Atrium, as you’ll read on our pages, only opened its doors on Eyre Street in February. Now the building is set to be demolished to make way for student flats.
That got me thinking more seriously about what we want in our city centre, what is the overall plan and do those two things work together like they should?
In 2026 it is not easy to create a thriving heart of a big city - to make it so good that it pulls people in from every surrounding neighbourhood and beyond.
But it is possible. We can see that in our often smaller but regularly more successful neighbours.
If I had a pound for every time somebody in a position of power in this city had said to me that we were in a good position to build something amazing - because it is basically a shell - I could buy the John Lewis site and transform it.
I could do the same with the Debenhams site if I had a fiver for every time I've heard somebody complaining about a lack of an overall 'plan'. If there is one, the council keeps it very close to its chest. Perhaps it genuinely exists and involves few shops but tons of housing.
This city is frustrated and nobody can blame us. I have my ear bent regularly by shopkeepers and they are correct in everything they say.
My heart sinks every time a reader tells me they don't bother to go into town because there is nothing there. It is a self fulfilling prophecy.
What those at the Town Hall have done to ease those frustrations over recent months, years, decades ... well, it won't fill many column inches.
But that isn't the whole story and everybody who does take time to go into town knows that. There are people working hard to improve our city centre. Take the good folk at Sheffield BID. They put on some great events, do their best to keep the whole area looking smart and, well, their members' livelihoods depend on us showing support. We really must back them.
The light shows, the children's events, the specialist markets. If us Sheffielders don't shout about them from the rooftops and spend our hard earned money there, who will?
All the research shows that you need people to live in the centre to be able to create a truly vibrant place that will thrive. The only trouble is we've seen plenty of apartments built, it is just that little else has followed.
If you had the magic wand, the budget of the council or the power they have to bid for external funding - what would you do?
That's the crucial question and that should be the big debate. Improve town and it will have an impact on how we all feel about where we live. We're being led by small independents and, sadly, many of them come and go before you can even get them on your favourites list.
I don't believe it matters whether you want a summer dress from Atkinsons, some sausages from the market, a tattoo at The Atrium or a coffee made with Sheffield beans and skill.
We must all try harder to spend our money here, in Sheffield and with Sheffielders.
The Pride of Yorkshire lions are a good enough reason to visit the city centre whenever the sun is shining.
They are truly extraordinary and it will take some serious perseverance to see them all.
For now, it is 'business as usual' at The Atrium.
There is no better way to register your support, frustration or love for this city than popping into town and paying them a visit.
We will be writing a lot more about the great things going on in the heart of Sheffield this summer, over coming weeks. But we will also be holding those in power to account, as always.