What can Main Street business owners do in this economic climate? They can rely on each other”™s creativity ”¦ and try to get the word out about what they offer in the most economical way possible. It”™s a challenge for businesses from Wappingers to Warwick.
Warwick Valley”™s Chamber of Commerce President Michael Johndrow is faced with the same issue as his larger chamber peers: Getting the word out ”“ and bringing in the people ”“ to keep local businesses afloat.
Warwick is probably best known for Applefest, which drew locals when it first started the all-day event nearly two decades ago. It has grown into an annual ritual, bringing more than 35,000 visitors from all over the state and beyond in 2007. It”™s a nice idea, but keeping that kind of momentum all year is tough and not really doable. Winter can be challenge enough for small business, but the economy is making life even more difficult.
“People who know what a great beautiful village Warwick is and love to visit here need to do it more often, but like everyone else, they are concerned about spending money,” said Johndrow.Â
“People have cut back,” said attorney Robert Krahulik of the Warwick chamber”™s board of directors. “Instead of ordering an appetizer or desert with dinner, they”™ll skip it. You can”™t blame anyone. But we also need to stimulate our local economy.”
To make Warwick”™s culinary efforts stand out, the village and town are celebrating their own Restaurant Week, which will take place Feb. 22-March 8, every day except Saturday.Â
Participating restaurants will offer special menu, discounted 25 percent, as well as traditional menus. Warwick has a heaping helping of restaurants ”“ from the exotic to home-grown American ”“ and theuy are adapting to capture some attention, partnering with the bed-and-breakfasts in the area to make stretch a meal into a couple of days of dining and exploring.Â
Businesses will benefit from more exposure when the town and village holds its second annual Business Expo on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Warwick Valley Middle School.
“Last year, we had over 80 businesses and nearly 800 visitors,” said Johndrow. With WVT Communications again taking the lead as Expo”™s major sponsor, Johndrow hopes more than 100 businesses and even more visitors will come to find out just how much Warwick has to offer.
“It was a tremendous value to the businesses who presented themselves and to the attendees who learned more about local available resources,” said WVT”™s president and CEO, Duane Albro. “We believe it will become a ”˜must-attend”™ event for community businesses.”
Both town Supervisor Michael Sweeton and Mayor Michael Newhard are supporting the efforts, saying Warwick, like so many villages on tourists”™ radar, is attractive and there”™s a need to give people an all-season reason to visit, not just to come for a special event.
“Winter, particularly after the holidays, is a quiet time of year to begin with,” said Johndrow. “This year, our local merchants just held their own. It”™s been very tough, but they are trying to stick together.” Â
With so many proposals waiting to find out if hopes will be dashed on the Legislature”™s floor during budget deliberations, communities are finding ways to band together to bring in business without waiting for the government to help them generate tourism dollars.
“When it comes right down to it,” said Johndrow, “it”™s up to us to keep the doors open and be as creative as we possibly can. Thanks to the support of WVT Communications and others, we”™re hoping this year”™s Business Expo will be bigger and better than last year. And we”™re also looking to attract customers to our local restaurants and B&B”™s and the wonderful stores we have to shop in. We aren”™t going to sit around and do nothing.
“We know these are tough times, and people are watching their pocketbooks,” he said, “but if we are to survive as communities, we need to support each other and shop locally as much as possible. And for those looking for a great little place to get away to, we”™ve got one of the prettiest spots in the valley.”
For more information on Restaurant Week or the Business Expo, contact Johndrow at 986-2720 or event Chairwoman Dianne Massey at 325-2247.
