A new lease of life on the old street, but how intriguing is it?

A glimpse inside many shops on Acland Street tells a similar story. I recently counted eight sites that used to be someone's business - now empty spaces bearing ''for lease'' signs.

The strip that used to have everything is now bereft of a newsagent and a florist. Kinki Gerlinki has shut down and the Quick Brown Fox has moved to the Balaclava end of Carlisle Street.

The Vibe cafe a few doors down from the iconic Cicciolina restaurant is gone. And the closures have spilt into surrounding streets. Gone are the cool and quirky fashions of Dollhouse on the beach side of Carlisle Street, along with the vintage clothes shop a couple of doors down. Two shops have also shut down on Barkly Street, including the stylish Shuba. That's 12 empty shops in the village precinct.

Those of us who live here are lucky. With the beach a short walk away and the lush Botanic Gardens in Blessington Street nearby, it is a beautiful spot. But there is something seriously wrong happening to Acland Street, and the hub cherished not only by locals is in danger of losing its soul. Because the small businesses that make strips like Acland Street special are becoming scarcer.

As the sun comes out the crowds pour into St Kilda. Come summer, it will be inundated with backpackers. Frustrated runners will try to manoeuvre their way through dawdling tourists. The line for gelati at 7 Apples will curve around the corner. The restaurants will be crammed, punters will sit outside drinking beer in the sun, and parents will pause from pushing prams to peer into shop windows. The question is will they be spending money? Because it's becoming clear that the local businesses are really struggling.

In the past few years, the old institution, the Scheherazade restaurant, has been lost. The old Cosmos bookshop is now Readings. And mainstream shops such as Sportsgirl - shops that enjoy the financial buffer that comes with being part of a big chain - have moved in. I understand that there's a place for high street shops like Sportsgirl. I just don't think that place is Acland Street.

A new shop will soon open in the vacant spot beside Sportsgirl. It bears an intriguing sign: ''Something good is about to happen …''

I truly hope so. Because more shops that you can find anywhere, selling ordinary things you can buy anywhere, are calling St Kilda home. At the same time, the number of shops offering something a bit different is diminishing.

There is even an Optus shop now, a recent addition to Acland Street. While it might be convenient for the locals, it does nothing to add to the charm of the precinct. And for a street that once prided itself on its eclectic appeal, isn't that more important? I'd prefer to see an Acland Street where an Italian deli sits between a Middle Eastern bakery and an antiques shop. At least the old cake shops Acland Street has long been famous for remain. But will they survive?

Bianca Dawson, president of the St Kilda Village Traders Association and co-owner of the Veludo bar and cafe, says there are always shop closures in St Kilda during the winter months. But this year, the economy - with a higher Australian dollar and more people shopping online - has made things tougher. When you're occupying prime real estate, rents are high. Dawson points out that similar scenes are probably unfolding in other strips. And, she says, some businesses are still doing well.

As for big chain stores moving in, she says: ''I think people are really guilty of buying property in these areas because they love it and they love the quirkiness of the shops. But are they really spending money in those shops?''

It's a fair question. If people want their local shops to survive, they need to support them. And if the very things that attract people to St Kilda disappear and are replaced by shops that already exist elsewhere, it's possible the crowds will start dropping off. Dawson says she doesn't think that will happen. But she is conscious that there's an issue. Last Christmas she launched a ''support your local strippers'' campaign - cheekily referring to traders as ''strippers'' - and intends to repeat the exercise this Christmas.

Landlords play a role in the survival of small businesses too, and should give them a break.

When the council attempted to construct a so-called St Kilda Triangle site, many locals were horrified, fearing it would turn into a shopping centre monstrosity. The plan, dubbed by its knockers ''Chadstone by the Bay'', was howled down. It was eventually scrapped.

But if things don't change, it seems that Acland Street is at risk of morphing into that anyway.

Carol Nader is a senior journalist.

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