Shoppers bid a tearful goodbye to two Tower Square landmarks. Hannoush Jewelers will close its doors after 23 years, and Edwards Books is closing after 26. Janet Edwards saw it coming.

"Life is change, life is flow. And one door closes and another door opens," she said as she was packing up boxes Wednesday.

But lately, there seems to be more doors closing at Tower Square, rather than opening. In just the past couple of years, the downtown shopping complex has seen stores come and go, including U.S. Factory Outlets, Gus and Paul's, and Rein's Deli - which only stayed open for three months earlier this year.

"It's scary to me because I work downtown, and it's very upsetting to me to see all these stores go one after another," said Roberta Gutstein, an Agawam resident who works downtown.

But it wasn't always like that. Carmen Estrella worked in Tower Square back when the mall was known as Bay State West. It was full of stores and full of life, she remembered. She owns and operates Naturalizer, a shoe and accessory business. She's worked there for 22 years, but can't help thinking that her time is coming.

"It's a beautiful mall, and we need the business," Estrella said. "It's a beautiful downtown, but I don't know what's going on."

"I want it to go back to the way it used to be. More stores. Less offices," said Jeanne LaCroix, a Springfield resident.

Hannoush Jewelers said they, too are closing because of declining foot-traffic and declining profits.

Janet Edwards' near-empty store looks like it did when she first moved in. She hopes the next tenant - if there is one, can help bring back the downtown landmark.

"I'm ready to hand the keys over to someone else with energy and commitment, and I think those people are out there. And I wish everybody the best of luck, I really do," Edwards said.

Tower Square's Property Manager, Fred G. Christensen, could not be reached for comment.