As some businesses are deciding to leave Portland, others say now is the time to invest in the city.

At The Star, the general manager said his team is expanding hours, adding events, and re-investing in the Pearl District space -- despite facing challenges over the last three years.

"It’s kind of a give-and-take in the neighborhood, between businesses wanting to be here and businesses wanting to leave because of things like vandalism and break-ins and stuff like that. It’s been tough. We’ve had our own share of break-ins," Will Carrell said.

Carrell said he's working in tandem with surrounding businesses to help the neighborhood prepare for the years to come.

"It really spawns growth, I think, when people start to see other businesses moving in and thriving. They want to be a part of it. Then it’s a long-term goal, right? What is it going to look like five years from now as opposed to just right now?" he said.

Kurt Huffman owns restaurants across Portland. He's now partnering with Expensify to open a pod of 28 food carts in a downtown neighborhood that continues to face hurdles.

"Their owner reached out to me with the intent to invest in downtown Portland. He wanted to do something, put real money into it, and try to help transform this little area. This is Portland’s oldest food cart pod and it’s kind of fallen into disrepair," Huffman said.

That site was the scene of a food cart explosion last summer. This year, Huffman said he feels this project will turn things around.

"We’ve done 70 projects in the last 14 years, and I’ve never had one where people come by and ask if they can help or give high fives or stuff like that. So, this is showing a lot of civic pride I think," he said.

Huffman's Midtown Beer Garden is set to open at Southwest 5th Avenue and Oak Street on July 15.