Businesses agree to stay open later

Approximately 30 Eureka Springs business owners, lodging owners, and other concerned citizens met Wednesday evening to hear ideas of ways to boost the local economy.

The consensus of the group is to immediately start staying open later on Fridays and Saturdays.

James DeVito hosted the meeting in his restaurant and served moderator for the evening.

Carrie Falotico is the coordinator of the "Eureka Alive at Night" project.

Generally, the discussion moved from identifying the problems to what was going to be the "first step" to encourage businesses to stay open later.

One person after another said they hear visitors ask what they can they do after their evening dining.

Tom "West" Tharp, owner of Olden Days Carriage, said he hears over and over, "Why are the stores closed? When do they open tomorrow?"

Robert Woodum, president of the Greater Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, suggested, "We need to let the people in the Fayetteville corridor know for certain that we will be open after 5 p.m.

"Fayetteville people don't come back because there is nothing to do after 5 p.m., and they don't recommend to their family and friends to come to Eureka," he said.

Another specific audience to target are the visitors who come to see permanent residents of the Eureka Springs-Holiday Island area.

Deni Warner, originator of the concept of "Eureka Alive at Night," based on her observations of the same economic decline occurring in other cities, offered the ideas: have musicians playing, artists drawing and painting, and vendors selling flowers out in the streets.

Everyone agreed that it is an excellent idea to provide acoustic music, live instrumental music that is not amplified, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Also, it is a good idea to continue to provide music in the bandshell in Basin Spring Park.

Wade Williams of Holiday Island and a member of the Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commission, said that, "The remainder of this season is good practice for staying open until 9 p.m. next year."

Lynn Berry, Director of Marketing for the City Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC), offered the idea of using "We're Open for the Holidays" as a tag line that could be added to the Christmas brochures.

She thought it was a good idea for retailers to tie in with the Christmas Holiday Promotion.

The ideas kept coming:

Since retailers' employees are their biggest assets, they should welcome every visitor who walks in the door.

Stores should unite to promote a monetary give-away.

Stores already staying open until 9 p.m. should ask their neighbors to do the same and offer to help them do it.

Michelle McDonald, who can frequently be seen decked out in Victorian dress, encouraged others to wear period dress and simply stroll the streets and greet visitors.

She was designated as the Ambience Director and is actively adding to her list of volunteers willing to stroll and greet.

She can be contacted at 253-7377 or rosalie@mynewroads.com.

Mark Clark said, "Visitors want to be entertained. We're all putting on the same show.

"Have your employees entertain the customers the minute they walk in your store. Visitors come to Eureka Springs to be entertained, not to shop. Customers will come back and buy the second day.

"We are all in the same business, not in competition."

Clark volunteered to locate street entertainment. He said that street entertainers are already working the East and West Coasts and are looking for work in the middle of the country.

According to Carrie Falotico, "I think the three key elements to making this effort successful are:

"Unity: This is a cooperative effort. We all need to be on the same page, working toward the same goal.

"Community: We all need to participate in this effort however we can. You don't have to be a business owner to make a difference. We are striving to improve our community for everyone who lives, works and visits here.

"Commitment: We all need to be dedicated to making a constant effort if we want to see positive change."