Having lived in Bozeman for a few years now, it is interesting to watch all the "progress".

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Construction continues rapidly as retail and residential structures are being built all around the city. The Gallatin Valley Mall is in the middle of a major makeover, multi-story high-dollar apartment buildings are being built in the center of town, and the main street seems to be hopping with folks looking for a little retail therapy.

When we first moved here there were minimal apartments and the prices were sky-high.

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Folks were making a killing just off the application process. I mean, you had landlords and rental companies who had one or two units available and would charge 100 people to fill out an application fee.

Last week, I spent some time downtown for work and had the chance to go into a lot of our downtown businesses. I have to tell you, I was impressed with many of the stores.

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Whether you're looking for clothes, shoes, jewelry, art, hardware, bikes, outdoor gear, or whatever, you can find it in downtown Bozeman. However, some of those items come at a pretty hefty price.

So, I ask, has Bozeman become that town that no longer caters to its people? Are we one of those resort towns that is filled with retail outlets that the common person simply can't afford?

I think that all depends on who you ask. If you're asking me, I say it's a bit of both. While downtown seems to be targeting a more up-scale demographic, plenty of local retailers looking out for the common man and woman.

It seems that those who are hoping that Bozeman will one day become that sleepy little mountain town again are going to be disappointed.

What do you think? Is Bozeman too far gone, or is it the right mix of new and old school? Let us know by sending us a message on our app.

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