Frigid weather impacts local business districts
Freezing temperatures and lake effect snow have not only kept children home from school, they have also kept many holiday shoppers away from local business districts.
The Cedar Fairmount Special Improvement District postponed its concert of holiday carols that was to be held at the Alcazar on Dec. 14. The SID will reschedule the Roxboro Middle School Chorus for a date to be determined in January.
The weather has not impacted the SID’s end of year fundraising goals. According to Kaye Lowe, executive director, the SID has raised enough to pay for 10 of 12 new overhead signs and needs only $518 more in order to place the order for all 12 signs. The new street signs will sport the district’s logo and complement signs that are already in place on the side streets.
The Cedar Lee Special Improvement District has concluded its holiday food drive. New district signage, part of an overall design plan for the district, was unveiled earlier this month. The new signage makes it easier for shoppers to locate parking lots in the district.
The Coventry Village Special Improvement District has a couple of events planned for this weekend. Carolers will stroll along Coventry from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18 and from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18. Coventry Claus will join the festivities from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, and Sunday, Dec. 19.
“Local merchants have what last-minute holiday shoppers need,” said Steve Presser, owner of Coventry Village’s Big Fun toy store and marketing director for the SID. “Big Fun has introduced a whole new line of ‘Cleveland. You've Got Be Tough!’ merchandise. What could be more appropriate?”
For a list of some of the items Heights merchants have available, check out the Heights Observer’s 2010 Holiday Gift Guide. Many merchants will recommend items for those hard-to-shop-for people on your list, gift wrap and ship your items, too.
Why shop local?
According to the American Independent Business Alliance, "multiple studies have shown each dollar spent at local independent businesses, on average, generates at least three times more direct local economic benefit than dollars spent at an absentee-owned chain.” To learn more visit, http://amiba.net/multiplier_effect.html.
Deanna Bremer Fisher is executive director of FutureHeights and the publisher of the Heights Observer.