I was there. (I am admittedly not a regular but did recently go on a "PATH walk".) I don't think that renovation is the main problem. The PATH is very nice and comfortable. I see the main issue is it being closed weekends (I don't think most shops are not allowed to open, probably not the food ones at least as the bathrooms are locked.) I understand that this would be a tough problem to bootstrap. Because obviously no one is there because no shops are open, but no shops are open because no one is there. But it does seem surprising to me that Starbucks or some other coffee shop next to a huge array of fairly comfortable tables couldn't make a profit on weekends, even if it took a while for the word of this nice location to get out.
It's a good idea, even if they zoned/mandate some of it as such (coffee shop in work area open on weekends), technically the city is in charge of the path. I know a few councilors through work, guess it's worth mentioning.
