What a difference a year makes.

Just 12 months ago, there were so many empty storefronts along Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair that the Business Improvement District commissioned artists to install artwork there. This year, those storefronts are filled with merchandise. According to Jason Gleason, executive director of the Business Improvement District, on Church Street for Small Business Saturday, the vacancy rate in Montclair Center has declined from 18% in January to 11% this month. Forty-nine new businesses have set up shop in the district, he said; subtracting the loss of 18 leaves a net of 31.