Readers of this blog are probably familiar with the notion that I am not a fan of government-sponsored fesitvals. The common claim is that they promote tourism and stimulate economic development. My standard response is that there are probably more than ten thousand better ways to spend taxpayer money.
However, if politicians insist on spending tax dollars on festivals ("give them circuses" was the phrase employed by Roman politicians) then please don't close the streets. Amherstburg business owners in the retail and service sectors told me they took a financial beating from September 27 to 29, 2019. A typically profitable weekend was turned into a loss because the streets were closed. Here's what it looked like.
However, if politicians insist on spending tax dollars on festivals ("give them circuses" was the phrase employed by Roman politicians) then please don't close the streets. Amherstburg business owners in the retail and service sectors told me they took a financial beating from September 27 to 29, 2019. A typically profitable weekend was turned into a loss because the streets were closed. Here's what it looked like.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday every retail and service-sector business in Amherstburg is typically doing brisk business. Unfortunately, on Saturday, September 28th at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the retail and service businesses in downtown Amherstburg were dying. I spoke personally to several owners who said their typically brisk business was dead. Why? Because the streets were closed.
There were at least two businesses in the service sector who are normally open on Saturday who simply shut their doors for the weekend and didn't bother opening up at all. They were the smart ones. They knew business was going to be dead for the weekend because the streets were closed. So they didn't bother wasting their time. They just stayed closed. Here are some more photos of downtown Amherstburg at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, September 28th. Empty streets.
There were at least two businesses in the service sector who are normally open on Saturday who simply shut their doors for the weekend and didn't bother opening up at all. They were the smart ones. They knew business was going to be dead for the weekend because the streets were closed. So they didn't bother wasting their time. They just stayed closed. Here are some more photos of downtown Amherstburg at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, September 28th. Empty streets.
It was a different story for businesses in the food and beverage sector. The craft beer establishment appeared to be packed all day long. Food and beverage providers told me it was a good weekend. They said their business picked up around 4:00 p.m. and didn't stop. Their experience was entirely different from that of the businesses in the retail and service sectors.
But when I asked business owners about the streets being closed, it did not matter what sector you were in: retail, service, or food and beverage. The response was unanimous: The street closure did not help business.
The message from the business community is clear. Please keep the streets open.
But when I asked business owners about the streets being closed, it did not matter what sector you were in: retail, service, or food and beverage. The response was unanimous: The street closure did not help business.
The message from the business community is clear. Please keep the streets open.