Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon supposedly spent many years searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth.

His quest to find the nectar of immortality was unsuccessful, although he did discover Florida, where a fountain of youth would probably come in handy.

Leaders and residents of Escondido seem to have engaged in an equally long and nearly as fruitless quest for a "fountain of boost" for its downtown area. Any such perception might arise from the city's constant pursuit of the next great thing; the addition that will somehow turn its quaint, but sleepy downtown into Manhattan west.

Or at least, Gaslamp north.

The quest goes back nearly 25 years, when the city's voters approved the plan for an entertainment center and museum. Supposedly, if they built it, people would come to what was sure to become North County's arts mecca.

That didn't quite work according to plan, though not for a lack of trying.

The city spent a year or two in the early '90s tearing up Grand Avenue to create a more pedestrian-friendly main drag for the visitors sure to come. Wider sidewalks and landscaped medians provided the bones for the transition.

Economic incentives and hard work were supposed to fill in the rest. Upscale restaurants were lured. Artists and gallery owners were encouraged to participate in the artistic rejuvenation spurred by the opening of the long-awaited California Center for the Arts, Escondido in October 1994.

They came, and in some cases they left, but still, too often, downtown streets were as empty as Qualcomm Stadium for an Aztecs football game.

Something more was needed to lure folks downtown, it seemed. The answer, to some, was a movie theater. Certainly, if one of those newfangled megaplexes would locate downtown, foot traffic and business would boom.

The 16-screen Signature Theatre complex opened in 2004, but apparently did not do the trick.

That conclusion comes from the city's continuing efforts to bring a luxury hotel to the downtown area. A recent story by our David Garrick indicated the city's dreams of an upscale downtown hinged on the development of such a hotel.

Maybe so. But is an upscale downtown in a less-than-upscale city really the best way to go?

Let's take a look at what brings out Escondido residents from their neighborhoods to the city center. Cruisin' Grand has accomplished that for nearly 10 years. But if you visit that classic car show, you'll see that despite the presence of several upscale restaurants, the longest line to get in is in front of Filippi's.

One would guess that value is the lure for the family-oriented crowd.

Value, too, brings people out to the various food-tasting events by many names that the Downtown Business Association has sponsored over the years. A chance to test the wares of many of the local eateries for the cost of a meal at one of the upscale restaurants has proved irresistible to many.

It's doubtful those same folks will come rushing back downtown because a fancy Marriott is built.

Face it, Escondido and surrounding communities are made up predominantly of families and retirees. And there's nothing wrong with that. So instead of gunning for upscale, perhaps city leaders might best devote resources toward a downtown that is fun to visit.

The area already features an eclectic mix -- fancy restaurants next to appliance shops, day spas, a reptile store, an exotic bird shop, two community theaters, a wine bar and a couple of popular pubs.

People can wander through galleries that feature the best of local artists or the internationally known Mingei Museum. Dance and music lessons are offered by Grand Avenue businesses, which also include coin shops, antique stores, coffee shops, mom-and-pop eateries and much more.

All are housed in buildings with an old-time feel.

Finding businesses appealing to families and seniors -- budget restaurants, maybe an indoor mini-golf course and arcade, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor or perhaps a small classic-car museum to play off the success of Cruisin' Grand -- might be a better use of city resources than another giant edifice in what is at heart a small town.

Even Ponce de Leon eventually gave up his quest.

Contact staff columnist Jeff Frank at 760-740-5419 or jfrank@nctimes.com.