The entire world has long been a fan of Nintendo’s mega-franchise, Pokemon, but that popularity has reached even newer heights with Niantic’s latest development Pokemon Go. A fitness app in disguise, Pokemon Go has reached newer audiences, forcing its players to get outside and walk around to actually play the game.

Murfreesboro is no exception to the new craze. There are several different go-to-spots in town, but one of the most popular, is The Avenue. The Avenue is the perfect destination for Pokemon hunting due to its pedestrian friendly lay-out, multiple rest stops, and plenty of stores and restaurants to aid you in your downtime. Not only that, the Avenue is rich with in-game commodities, such as Poke stops, gyms, and plenty of wild Pokemon.

   Pokemon Go has presented a unique opportunity to the businesses of The Avenue, as foot traffic has reached unprecedented levels. “It has made people come in, but we have been trying to convert them to clearance, so they aren’t just playing Pokemon Go,” said Brooks Ditto, American Eagles’ assistant store manager.

This phenomenon goes both ways, as plenty of players have capitalized off of their extra time at the Avenue.

“Walking around in the heat gets tiresome after a while, so we always grab a bite to eat afterwards,” said a Pokemon hunter walking around the Avenue.

It is things like this that make Pokemon Go different than any other game. It has brought millions of people together, provided plenty of nostalgia for older generations, been a catalyst for plenty of businesses, and has gotten the world as a whole to be a little bit more active.

So, continue catching them Pokemon, because as we all know, you gotta catch ‘em all.