BOULDER, Colo. -- Some Boulder businesses say the pearl of the city is turning into a plight.

Stores along Pearl Street in Boulder claim customers are being driven away by teens and transients.

Business at Sunglass Pros on the mall is down almost 30 percent.

“This is a family place, and I think those families are just uncomfortable coming here when we have issues like this,” said Chris Barton, store manager.

The issue is a group of teens and transients who spend hours smoking, littering and loitering outside his business, he said.

Several shop owners recently met with police and the city about what they consider a growing problem, ever since the group was forced off the courthouse lawn and moved to a small park in front of their stores.

“Right in front of us is a place where kids come with families and kids are there smoking, using foul language, aggressive pan-handling. We’re trying to make it a more user-friendly mall for pedestrians,” said Tom Holmquist, Elevation Outfitters manager.

So, business owners have proposed expanding the smoking ban from the current 15 feet from store fronts to 50 feet, effectively making smoking in that area illegal.

Some pedestrians felt that proposal was too severe.

The idea has not been brought before the city council, yet, but store owners say at least it is a start to get people talking and find a solution.