Published: October 10, 2008 11:01 am            

Some downtown business owners say Harvest Homecoming festival detracts from sales

People scampered through downtown New Albany streets Thursday, underneath a perfect sky featuring bright sunshine on a picturesque autumn day.

But it’s not the light that’s blinding people from seeing the businesses that anchor downtown everyday — it’s the booths that are set up once a year for Harvest Homecoming.

“It has always had a dramatic, negative effect on business,” said Bob Caesar, city councilman and owner of J.O. Endris Jewelers, which is located along Pearl Street.

The festival provides entertainment and enjoyment for the city as a whole, but it does impact businesses located downtown which depend on parking and visibility, Caesar said.

“My business will be down at least 30 percent because of Harvest Homecoming,” said Caesar, who serves as a director for the event and whose business has donated thousands of dollars worth of jewelry for Harvest fundraisers and giveaways.

He wants Harvest to continue, but thinks it needs some tweaking so that it will serve as a boost for the local economy, specifically downtown businesses.

“I enjoy sacrificing my business for the betterment of the community,” Caesar said.

Angela Shaughnessy, co-owner of Downtown Style located along East Market Street, said her beauty shop is usually closed on Friday and Saturday because of the festival and due to the owners wanting to enjoy the fun, but overall, she believes it’s an excellent event for the city.

“We’re an established business so our customers are going to come regardless,” Shaughnessy said.

“We do see a drop-off in clients because they don’t want to park and walk, especially some of our elderly customers.”

Endris Jewelers and Downtown Style used to have booths during Harvest, but Caesar said its hard to staff one and Shaughnessy said they didn’t see much profit from it.

Downtown Style would sell hair products and other boxed items that Shaughnessy said festival-attendees had trouble carrying around, since most were there to enjoy the food.

They stopped hosting a booth, but still support the festival.

“It doesn’t upset me at all. I welcome the Harvest Homecoming,” she said.

Charles Crowley, co-owner of Dive with Chuck LLC which is located along East Market Street, said his main gripe is the lack of access customers have to his storefront during Harvest.

“They should give local businesses first priority,” he said. “It should be local money staying local.”

Caesar estimated that the majority of vendors come from out of town to sell their products.

Crowley said the Harvest Homecoming organization should focus on supporting the local businesses during the event.

“If you want to develop New Albany, this would be the time to do it,” he said. “Especially in our economy, business owners need everything they can get.”

Caesar would like to see more arts and crafts sold during the festival. He said there are plenty of local artists who could sell higher quality goods than what many of the booths offer.

Caesar wishes Harvest Homecoming would give back more money to the city to help cover some of the expenses incurred, including police and fire overtime.

But through thick and thin and a few lost customers during Harvest, Caesar said it’s a unique festival that brings people together and puts a spotlight on New Albany.

“We will always support it,” he said.

        

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