Curt is Chicago native – but don’t hold that against him. After stops in Madison and California, he and his wife moved to Waukesha in 2004 to open their own downtown business.
The Carl Zach Cycling Classic is this Saturday, July 15th, in Downtown Waukesha. It is a great event to enjoy even if you are not an avid biker.
However, not everyone is a pleased as punch that it runs through the Downtown Business District.
Before I go on, let me make something VERY clear. The following story is “word on the street”. I am not mentioning names of people or stores, I am merely relaying what I have heard and seen in the past few days.
Saturday is a busy shopping day for many of the merchants down here on Main Street, especially in the summer when the weather is nice. This Saturday, Main Street will be closed from West Avenue to Broadway.
There is no shortage of people down here, but “shoppers” are another story. Coffee shops and restaurants will probably do well, as folks are looking for water, soda, food, and such but other merchants are feeling a little jaded.
A local artist and gallery owner I spoke with mentioned that there is an increase in “lookers” (people just looking), and she said that is a good thing. These lookers will return in the weeks to follow with friends to make purchases.
On the other hand, if you ask at a business such as a salon, they may give you another story. They will actually be closed for the weekend and that can mean big losses for them.
It depends on who you are and what you do.
To further demonstrate the frustration some are feeling, take a drive down Main Street (before they close it) and check out what one of the businesses on West Main has to say about it. It’s hard to miss- it’s a big sign in the window reading “IT’S TIME TO SCREW UP THE OTHER END OF MAIN”, accompanied by a graphic of a bike with a line through it.
This sign was enough to get under the britches of more than a few folks. As a matter of fact, someone, under the cover of night, scribed a message for this merchant on the sidewalk outside of his window. It depicts a bicycle with the words, “JUST RIDE” above it. Next to that is the Nike symbol.
Very clever and very tasteful I might add, seeing as they could have chosen to write something a lot worse.
I spoke with the owner of the business today. He got a kick out of the sidewalk art and was quick to point out that the Nike symbol was lacking its registration mark. The vandals could face a serious lawsuit if Nike finds out! He said he would leave it out there until the rain washes it away. He stated that everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.
What a concept!
As the race draws closer and Downtown prepares itself for bikers and fans, a cloud of ill-will looms overhead.
As a merchant myself, I am never happy about having to close my doors on a busy day, but I look at it as my donation to the bike race. It’s one day a year and I can live with that.
Perhaps next year we can discuss some alternatives to ease the frustrations of those affected most by Main Street being closed. Could the race be held on Sunday? Who knows?
Regardless, if you are free this Saturday, stop down and enjoy the race. The course includes a wicked turn near Main and Broadway and that could be very entertaining. There will be a block party in the clock tower lot and El Ray and Nightbeats will be playing from 7 to 11 PM.
And it’s going to be 90 degrees!
