Traverse City Record-Eagle

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June 30, 2009

Downtown business owners have high hopes

Retailers prepare for surge of tourists

BY LAURA WRIGHT

TRAVERSE CITY -- Rainy, cool weather is on tap in the days before tourism ramps to frenetic levels during the National Cherry Festival, but a chilly spring hasn't affected downtown business.

"We were up from last spring, and last spring was our best spring ever," said Phil Anderson, owner of Diversions, a downtown hat business in existence since 1986.

The economy and weather are uncontrollable. But both must be considered when store owners order the products they sell. This year, so far, so good.

"We have been swamped," said Mary Daily, owner of Kilwin's Chocolate Shoppe downtown. "Everyone likes their treats, no matter what the weather is."

Customers often turn to downtown stores for entertainment when the weather isn't ideal.

"Our business is so dependent on weather. I don't think sunny, hot days help business," said Leslie Ansted, manager of Toy Harbor.

The 175 downtown businesses must find the perfect product that sells in any situation. It is a risk that can pay off, but too many failed risks hurt business.

"That's why we have so many different styles (of hats)," said Anderson. "The cold winter is great for warm hats. The hot summer is great for straw hats."

Business owners are hopeful strong sales continue right on through the Cherry Fest and balance of the summer season.

"The beginning of the Cherry Festival and the Fourth of July are always a huge week," said Anderson. "There's so much to do, it appeals to everybody."

Union Street becomes a pedestrian thoroughfare in early July when Cherry Festival-goers flow into downtown, and business owners feel the surge.

"One of our biggest weeks, if not in business, just in traffic," said Winter Kyvik, assistant manager of Plamondon Shoes.

Cherry Festival is the beginning of a busy time, with Friday Night Live and sidewalk sales to follow, Kyvik said.

Optimism and hope are at the top of proprietors' current vocabulary. They see a surge of tourists during the festival, then local patrons return after festivities end.

"I think it's going to be a good summer," said Anderson. "We're more local, we're not that far from a lot of population centers."

The State Theatre and City Opera House attract traffic on Sundays and at night, Anderson said. To accommodate, some stores are open later in the evenings, a trend that Anderson would like to see continue.

"I think that's what downtown is missing," he said. "With computers, it's so easy to track sales. In July and August of last year, we saw a 16 percent increase in sales after 6 p.m."

Shopowner Peter Schmitz gets excited when tourist season cranks up. Family Oasis hot dogs, "Been There Done That" T-shirts, and a 6-foot, wall-mounted Scrabble board are the new focus of his days, and his store.

Schmitz owns Annie's downtown and is in the final stages of a store renovation.

The renovation will allow families a place to go, regardless of weather conditions, Schmitz said.

"It's a very important summer for a lot of retailers," said Schmitz. "We're ready."

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