First came the Eastridge Mall. Years later a Home Depot, medical facilities and hotels popped up.

And as the city works on a plan to redevelop Casper's core, developers are planning to build a 10-screen movie theater, east of Home Depot.

In the midst of an ever-expanding east side, is the city's battle for growth in Casper's core too late?

For those downtown businesses that survived the mall's presence, more east-side building only shows a strong economy, not a scary omen of death.

East-side growth is simply a reality in Casper, said John Goedicke, owner of Goedicke's Arts and Crafts, a store his father established downtown in 1955.

Despite the current development and plans for future retail on the east and west sides, he said his art store is specialized enough to stay in business.

City Manager Tom Forslund thinks this is another sign of shifting growth, and if Casperites don't hurry, it may be too late for improvements in the core.

That is why the city is working on a plan to redevelop the Old Yellowstone District, an area settled between downtown and Poplar Street. The plans include zoning changes, design guidelines for buildings and restrictions on future businesses.

Those plans worry some of the 100-plus businesses in the district.

Forslund said the time to act is now.

Chris Leinberger, Brookings Institute fellow and urban renewal economist, cautioned against pushing a plan without community support. If it fails, it could take a half a generation to develop another one.

"You have to get over the cynicism of 'been there done that,'" he said.

Regardless of the city's plans, the majority of current growth is on the east side, and the need more services is now, said Randy Pryde, co-owner of Movie Palaces Inc., which owns all five of Casper's theaters and is planning the 10-screen complex east of Home Depot.

The downtown theaters are not large enough, nor do they have enough parking, to handle Casper's movie-going population, Pryde said. As more houses are built on the east side, it is time for a new-release movie theatre on that side of town.

"It's all about customer convenience," he said. "When people have to drive four miles to go to a movie and it's sold out, they aren't happy."

Pryde said new theater construction may be slowing in the nation, but he and his partners believe there is a need and an opportunity in Casper.

Metro Coffee Company co-owner John Norgaard isn't sure if the potential impact from a new theater on the east side of town, but isn't worried about his independent coffee shop downtown.

"It looks vibrant down here to me," he said.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com