Steve Cushman, head of the local chamber of commerce, counts just 27 empty storefronts out of 410 along the city’s main shopping street—a rate that many cities in California would envy.
Despite his green credentials, Mr Bryson's appointment was welcomed by Tom Donohue, head of the US Chamber of Commerce, who seldom finds anything praiseworthy in what Mr Obama does.
Ten years ago, says Win Hallett, the head of its Chamber of Commerce, the centre of Mobile was so ragged that he worried about visitors being frightened away by the hotels.