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Show PR ROS ee ed aie A Soe, Historic Main Street Business Alliance lians a Me rgammeston te Hache Maia Servet atin CSSES. THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1999 “Market or Die”? 8:00AM TO 11:00AM KIMBALL ART CENTER GALLERY Main Street Tenants Contend with Competition, Differing Agendas By Cornelia de Bruin Within a couple of weeks, a ballot will be ready for distribution to Main Street business managers and owners for their input on creating a self-funding marketing association for the historic area. The Main Street business district, which: used to be the only game in town, has noticed changes in recent years—not the least of which is the paid-parking program. They are changes that don’t bode well for future business. Although paid parking is an easy target, the program is not the only negative influence on shopping patterns for the highly visible—and, one would think, “We're going to have four to five times more retail [in Park City/Snyderville Basin] in 10 years,” Hooker says based on present commercial build-out plans. “I tell people that they better have deep pockets or be a chain store when that happens.” Hooker accuses some of the area’s merchants of not looking past the next season to assess how predicted trends will affect them. And he says the city’s downtown area will have to become a “specialty restaurant, bar and retail area” to compete in the future—unless other actions are taken. 3 Hence the formation about a year ago A war cry to Main Street merchants ing businesses and offices have different one generating a $200,000 budget, the interests than retail and restaurant businesses. For example, representatives of the lodging industry told the HMBA group they other raising twice that figure. It’s the amount of the fee increase that bothers some merchants. The suggested budgets would increase business costs as much as don’t think the extra expense to fund mar- nine times for hoteliers in Old Town. The same budgets increase business costs as much as seven times for restaurant, retail | and street level retail offices. The increases come because of the marketing fee added to the cost of a business license. “It’s up to [the businesses] to decide keting is worth it for their group.One spokesman noted that, unlike other types of ‘Main Street businesses, the lodging/condo industry is not affected by slowdowns typical during mud and shoulder seasons. Other merchants, like Lytle, believe it’s easily marketable—part of Park City. Competition from alternative retail locations is becoming a force for downtown merchants to contend with. And, according to Steve Hooker, president of the Historic Main Street Business Alliance, the bite that competition is now taking from the historic area is nothing compared to what’s coming. of the HMBA as a tool for marketing, and the preparation of ballots for downtown merchants to vote on paying to fund the organization. Not everyone agrees with Hooker, Rowee. er. Tiffany Lytle, manager of Tiff’s, explains that the HMBA put together a plan “that looks good until the different entities start bringing up their points.” She believes lodg- unfair for office space tenants not to pay fees. Hooker noted quite a few of the merchants who attended the meeting believe office businesses would benefit from the marketing and should, therefore, be assessed some type of fee. But, he adds, none of the proposals put forth so far are more than ideas. That is why the balloting will be so important, Hooker stressed. Ballots will be hand-distributed in two or three weeks, and will be hand-collected after business owners or managers fill them out on-the-spot. The self-funding plan offered last month presents two marketing budget possibilities: what they want to do,” Hooker said. “Some mom-and-pop stores may disagree with the concept ... they need to stand up and be heard, or we don’t know what they’re thinking.” However, such businesses are a minor- ity, Hooker added. Some anonymous Main Street merchants counter that while the HMBA is working for “something good,” the organization will probably go ahead and do what it wants. | “That’s the way it works in this town,” one merchant said. & www.ucmt.com recent Rearh eal al This Friday evening, UNWIND at your neighborhood Starbucks during JAVA JAM FRIDAYS. KICK BACK and enjoy an eclectic Enroll in UCNT’s Introduction to Massage Therapy class... range of LIVE MUSIC. 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