A Business Owner on Williamsburg Walks
From David Auerbach, owner of Dijital Fix:
As an owner of a Business on Bedford Ave, I can definitely attest to the fact that this stuff HURTS and not HELPS my business. At first, I was excited about it, having moved into my space just around the time they were beginning them. I soon realized what it meant. To make matters worse, the reps for Williamsburg Walks want us to sponsor this event, and if we don’t, they won’t be putting us on a useless flyer they hand out, which people throw away immediately since they don’t realize the “Williamsburg Walks” is actually an event.
I found the event somewhat interesting at first, but it doesn’t really give any local artists or street vendors any additional chance to do anything different, really. All we get are people sprawled out on the pavement simply because they can. This doesn’t make any sense. It’s hard enough to make a business in these economic times especially when rent on Bedford Ave is at a super-high-premium. It just doesn’t work. Duane Reade can afford a bad weekend, but small stores like mine suffer. I’m totally down to sponsor a block party of sorts where we can all participate, but this event leaves us out.
I like block parties.
I’d like to follow up on my comment (which was turned into a post).
I am fully for the idea of Williamsburg Walks, but it just seems (as I mentioned), that the organization, follow-through, and actual purpose of the event seems to be lost. Involving businesses on a different level would be helpful, as we like to think we help make this neighborhood interesting. Without us, it’d be sidewalks, cars, and Duane Reades, right? Or at least I like to think so. Art and music and freedom of choice is a big part of how I run my business, and the minute I stop caring about those things, I’ll close it. The point here is, there are so many parks now in Williamsburg where you can lay/walk on a much better surface than cement and tarmac, I really think we should think about a way to make something like this a real event, not just an afterthought.
If anyone agrees, I’m more than happy to host a meeting on such a thing in my store after-hours, or somewhere else.
Comment here or e-mail me at david@dijitalfix.com
I don’t understand how more people coming to just hang out in the sunshine is actively hurting any businesses, and I’m confused about what these businesses want. Maybe if they were a little more innovative, they could figure out a way to profit from an influx of people in front of their store. Just sayin’.
I am personally a fan of Williamsburg Walks and would be curious to hear how other business owners feel about the event. Community building ought to be the aim of every neighborhood association and I do feel that events like Williamsburg Walks get everyone out and together.
I think as community members we have to take it upon ourselves to support the events we like. Businesses shouldn’t be responsible for paying for an event that hurts their bottom line. I know that I would be more than happy to contribute a few dollars to see the event in the future. I also think we can develop more fruitful sponsorship packages if necessary. I happen to work in the grassroots fundraising field and would be more than happy to lend my expertise to the community. I’m sure I’m not alone either.
It is hard to see how this hurts businesses. Do your customers all drive and insist on parking directly in front of your business?