My Outtakes last week – “MORE DOWNTOWN PROGRESS” (Read it again) – has generated a lot of discussion.
There are about 60 retail establishments in the downtown Pensacola area. They are all locally owned. Only about a third actively market themselves, have thriving businesses, participate in joint initiatives, like Gallery Night, and are even open on Saturdays. Another third are hobby businesses – they give the businesses owners a place to go during the day; have no marketing plan and aren’t concerned with overall success of downtown. The remainder are doomed…under capitalized, poor business concept, no marketing, struggling to pay bills.
There are few retail draws to bring people downtown. The largest employers downtown are local and state governments – whose employees circulate some, but not after 5 p.m. (or is it more like after 3:30?).
The other thing that came out the calls and emails I received is that the city council cares very little about the downtown economy. They appoint the DIB board and walk away. Few, if any, meet with downtown business owners and managers to learn how the city can help. Few ever attend a Gallery Night, unless it’s an election year.
Why should we care about downtown? It’s how our city and the greater Metropolitan area is judged. The downtown can generate more tax revenue per square foot and use less municipal services than any neighborhood or residential area. Downtowns can fund most of city’s services, if they’re thriving.
The Community Maritime park will help – but it’s 2-3 years away. My Outtakes was aimed at finding creative solutions to help increase downtown business traffic asap.