Amid the cacophany of boosterism and advertising about Riverbend reaching deafening level this time of year, little is heard in the way of concern and possible compensation for victims of the Riverbend Festival.
These are the businesses on both the North Shore and the city-side of the riverfront.
Riverbend represents a not insignificant loss of business revenue and trade traffic these merchants are glibly expected to endure and swallow by the festival agency, boosters and cheerleaders.
Very little has been done to address this matter. The enormous growth of this event is very much on the backs of the small, many family-owned, businesses populating this picturesque area. To ad insult to injury, some of these merchants have been asked to offer discounts to festival pin holders.
Why are these merchants not compensated for their loss? If nothing else, the holders of Riverbend should thank these people and give free of charge festival admission pins and tokens to the merchants and each employee at businesses impacted by Riverbed.
To take trade, with no expression of awareness of the negative impact of the festival on the part of the agency presenting the event, is the height of bullying and arrogant presumption.
Free admission pins and concession tokens are a tiny courtesy to extend to these people and their employees who are so grossly imposed upon.
E. Lindberg
Chattanooga
Rain18905@aol.com
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Not sure about everyone else, but I'm a little tired of hearing from the business owners downtown whining and complaining about the Riverbend Festival. They benefit from the revitalization of the riverfront year round. They did not make as much money before the riverfront was revived, yet they complain about a festival that has been here over 25 years. Many of these businesses are new and all of them were well aware that downtown Chattanooga had a Riverbend Festival. If anything, you all should be appreciative that Riverbend attracts tourists to this city and although they may not frequent your businesses during Riverbend, these tourist will most likely come back in the future. It is then they may frequent your business and spend their money.
You have a year to prepare for Riverbend every year, and it's only a week. Would you please halt with your whining and let Chattanooga have one little week of entertainment and enjoyment? You keep on whining and the people that actually enjoy downtown AND Riverbend may never come back downtown until next year's Riverbend, leaving you with no business at all.
If you hate it so much, move to another location. Riverbend has been down here since I was a kid. I don't remember most of you guys being here back then. They don't owe anyone free anything.
Kelly Bennett
Hixson
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I'm not a big Riverbend defender, but I can't help but wonder how many of the small businesses that Riverbend "victimizes" and "imposes upon" have been in place longer than the festival itself. Scratch that - how many have been there since before the Aquarium was built or the Walnut Street bridge reopened? How many pre-date the Bijou, the Creative Discovery Museum, or AT&T Field? My memory may be fuzzy, but I can only think of two: Jax Liquors and 212 Market.
Small business owners may locate their outposts wherever they please, but most will choose to go where the most people are. The same businesses that suffer during the 10 days of Riverbend enjoy year-round patronage because the city has invested millions upon millions in the area north of Fifth Street. How hard would it be for those business owners if the big draw on the riverfront was still Kirkman High School?
Mike Crowder
Chattanooga
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I just thought I would add my two cents to this discussion since I am an actual North Shore Merchant
First off, be careful not to lump all merchants together...not all of us are complaining...matter of fact, I don't hear much complaining at all on this side of the river from other merchants.
I opened my store in the Spring on 1994, so this is my 13th Riverbend as a shop owner. In the past, sure, it has affected my business during
Riverbend. But you know what, I knew Riverbend was going to be here when I "signed on"...it is what it is.
I have found over the years that while my business may suffer some during the actual event, I have had many people come back later in the month after "window shopping" on their way across the river.
Now, I can't speak for those who actually have shops and restaurants right in the thick of the site (i.e. Blue Plate, Hennen's, etc). But, when I was down there last week while the site was being set up, Riverbend officials had put up numerous, large, sandwich board type advertisements with the logos of the area shops and restaurants. At the top it said something along the lines of "we're still open"...They had these signs set up all the way out to 4th Street.
But back to my side of the river. This last week (the first weekend of
Riverbend) was I one of my best weeks I have ever had (outside of Christmas holiday weekends)...I was actually shocked because I had just been telling someone earlier in the week that I never expect much business during the festival...and I tell you what I think is the difference. Parking Meters.
Now before everyone groans, I have to admit that when meters were first proposed on the North Shore, I was vocally against it. I was on the "not visitor friendly" side of the debate. Well, I am big enough to admit when I am wrong. Having these meters (at least the on street side meters) have helped dramatically in "turnover"...and I think it is most noticeable during Riverbend because in past years, 95% of the parking was taken up by people spending their evening at Riverbend (and not on the North Shore)...leaving no spaces for those who did want to shop. You don't see that nearly as much of that now.
Even more interesting is that most of the people in my Gallery this weekend were tourists that had no idea that Riverbend was even going on.
My conclusions...
1) Riverbend can be an inconvenience, but it is hugely popular and a great event for the city (and this is coming from someone who rarely attends...I don't like big crowds). If a shop/restaurant is not strong enough to last through one week of inconvenience, it probably isn't going to make it anyway.
2) The city has actually become "big enough" to have Riverbend going
on...and still provide plenty to do for tourists and non-Riverbenders.
3) Some people just look for a reason to complain about any and everything. Life is too short...lighten up.
D.G. Smotherman
Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art
Frazier Avenue
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In response to D.G. Smotherman, of Winder Binder Gallery of Folk Art on Frazier Avenue, you have just gained a new "window shopper" who will visit your store and hopefully become a future customer - me.
It's great to see a positive attitude from someone who has worked through what first appeared to be an inconvenience, but has found a way to work with it instead.
Rick Tucker
Hixson
rictuck@comcast.net
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This is in response to the letter from the merchant E. Lindberg regarding Riverbend giving away their product because their success takes away from your business. I worked as the PR Director for the Riverbend Festival for seven years and we (the PR/Marketing staff) felt like we were just “beating our heads against the wall” when it came to the subject of the Downtown Merchants. For years, we tried to set up marketing strategy meetings for businesses that claim to have a negative impact during the festival. Not only were our efforts a waste of precious time when we did not have the time to spare, but we were met head on with negativity and utter rudeness.
If you have a business downtown or on the North Shore and you can’t find a way to capitalize on the 650,000 sets of feet that walk your sidewalks, then you may think of hiring a marketing professional that can help you out. Riverbend brings those thousands of people to your sidewalk – you just have to be creative and find a way to bring them in.
You mentioned that Riverbend suggested that you give discounts with a pin, well, an example of that would be if you are a restaurant, give a free appetizer with pin…not many folks will just have the appetizer…they will come in and buy drinks, dinner and such. It is not rocket science, just be creative and make the public want to come in your store/business! Instead of whining, put that energy in to jumping on the Riverbend band wagon and watch your business prosper. Ask some of the businesses that aren’t whining…Taco Mac, Big River, and many more. They have adjusted their schedules for those few days and it really has paid off for them.
One of the eateries that was interviewed on a local station said that their business was drastically down during the festival; well I don’t know about this year but that establishment actually closed their doors during the festival…again…none of the 650,000 people will come in to a business that is not open…duh.
Everyone is responsible for their own successes and their own failures; don’t blame others for your lack of marketing energies and knowledge.
Sandy Hunt
Chickamauga, Ga.
Sandy@flashgraphix.net