Mayor Rob Marlowe
We scooted out of town right after lunch Friday and went up to Palatka so my son could visit with my in-laws for the weekend. Part of the reason we went as early as we did was so that we could visit Palatka’s “Third Friday” event.
This is a project by their merchants association and Palatka Main Street. It was only one block long and the block was shorter than our Railroad Square area between Grand and Adams. Some of the stores stayed open late, but it was mostly a street party.
While we were there, they had a band playing out of the side of a truck that has been converted into a mobile stage. We didn’t stay for the folk group that was set up near the other end of the block.
They had a couple of food trucks, just in case someone got the munchies. Unlike our Railroad Square, there aren’t a whole lot of food options in the 300 Block in Palatka.
They had arts and craft and sidewalk chalk drawing for the kids and a few other attractions, but nothing major. This was not the sort of over-blown production that sucks the life out of the volunteers who try to man the event. What they did have were lots of little tables and chairs in the street and folks where encouraged to bring their own chairs as well. The other thing they had was a crowd of probably a hundred folks enjoying the evening in the downtown.
With or without formal event hosting by our Main Street’s Hospitality Managers Association, I’d love to see the food / beverage businesses on our Railroad Square organize something like this each month.
We’ve got a precedent: The Market Off Main has a weekly “farmers market” that has attracted a steady assortment of vendors and buyers. My wife and I have gotten into the habit of visiting there for dessert items to take home after eating out at one of our downtown restaurants.
New Port Richey seems to have plenty going on during the weekends. Would you come down to Railroad Square if there were a “Third Thursday” or similar event on a weeknight? Would it be enough to tempt you into having dinner downtown, either before or after visiting Railroad Square?
Food for thought. What do you think?
Rob Marlowe, Mayor
So many people would come… It’s all about how you market it. That’s been the NPR issue. We don’t have a cheerleader! “Public Relations Coordinator/ Marketing Manager”
ABSOLUTLY!
As part of M.O.M’s Friday Night Market I had hoped that the community and the city itself would show more support. I know we would welcome any of the buisness from downtown to join in on Friday night and make this market grow to include more food, craft, art and music. The community needs to come out and support our current vendors in order for us to attract more visitors and vendors. So maybe, starting an additional event in lieu of supporting what already exists is not an answer to helping downtown.
Absolutely, Trina. While having coffee with the city manager this morning, I was holding up the M.O.M’s Friday Night Market as a prime example of what can happen when you grow an occasional / monthly event into a weekly event. My wife and I visit the market pretty much every Friday night.
The Friday Night Market started as a “farmers market” that Main Street was running once a month in Railroad Square, at least during the cooler months. Rose and Jerry took the idea and converted it into a weekly event that runs 12 months of the year.
I’d like to see a monthly event on Railroad Square, perhaps on Thursday nights, that could be grown into a weekly Thursday night event. Ideally, there would be something cool going on downtown every night. None of the restaurants downtown can survive long term if they have to depend only on Friday and Saturday nights for business.
Rob, what a wonderful Idea! You are doing a surperb job as Mayor of N.P.R.!
I love to see when a community asks for input from the community and then folows through with it!
Thanks, Rob
Rob,
You need to check out Downtown Safety Harbor’s monthly 3rd Friday event, it rocks. We go there almost every third Friday.
If we do something like this, don’t do it on Third Friday’s, everyone is at Safety Harbor’s.
Mike
How about a weeknight Mike?
I think its a great idea
I like the idea the idea of a weeknight event. Maybe a “Third Thursday.” Space it from the MOM event so there would not be an overload. You’re right, Trina, we need to support the MOM’s event more. I have something I could sell there so now I will make it a point to participate. Regan you are right about needing a cheerleader. It’s all about marketing and promotions and getting people out of their house and to the downtown.