Good news just keeps coming for downtown. The News-Herald reported Saturday that three new and different types of eateries will be opening with a block or two of the old downtown over the next few months.

Pisces Seafood and Raw Bar in the former Nansemond Drug building, should be open in a matter of days or weeks, as will 149 North Java, an artsy-type coffee house; and an unnamed Mexican restaurant in the former Crystal Restaurant building.

The willingness of entrepreneurs to invest in downtown suggests a couple of things: that there’s a great deal of confidence in the future of the area; and that the long complained of downtown parking problem may be largely illusory – it’s hard to imagine people making such large capital investments if they thought customers did not have access.

The new restaurants will thrive on lunch trade, most of which will come from people who work downtown. It will be wonderful to have more choices within walking distance of most office buildings and it will be healthy for Suffolkians to rely more on their legs to get around, a central trait of a downtown existence. Not to mention the fact that there will likely be fewer automobiles attempting to navigate downtown at lunchtime, a source of frustration for many.

It’s a good time to be in Suffolk, as the saying goes, particularly downtown. We hope all the new ventures meet with success.