The Willow Glen Resident

Merchants discuss Founders Day '98

WGBPA organizers say they can afford just a one-day fair

By Cecily Barnes

After merchants and community members complained they had been cheated when the Sunday portion of Founders Day was canceled this past September, Willow Glen Business and Professional Association leaders promised to start planning for next year's festival early and to solicit input from people in the community. Making good on that promise, WGBPA business manager Demetri Rizos and president Kathy McDonald held the first of many meetings to plan next year's event. This first meeting was held with retail business owners on the Avenue.

"This is a preplanning meeting for the retail section because it's usually the biggest section that benefits from Founders Day," Rizos said. "We want to hear from them what they want, to foresee and hear what their expectations are."

The meeting began with Rizos explaining that the WGBPA simply did not have the money to put on a two-day event, but the association was open to any ideas about how to run the one-day fair.

"As the association is run, we cannot afford to put on a two-day event," Rizos said. "This is why we're starting early. This is a community event, and the community is looking to us."

Merchants did not question this limitation, and they threw out suggestions on how to have a successful one-day event in 1998.

The six merchants who attended the meeting agreed the festival should not be limited to a parade and street dance, but should include daytime festivities such as an arts and crafts fair, car show or sidewalk sale. Some even suggested scrapping the dance.

"I think the dance is fun in the summer, but it doesn't have to be repeated again," said Robyn Levine, owner of Details Clothing Company. "A lot of people wanted the crafts fair, a day they could go out with their kids. I think Sunday should be a healthy, family-oriented party."

Other merchants were split over whether to throw a Founders Day dance, but all agreed that the daytime fair definitely should be brought back. Cathi Karnes, owner of Dodads, wrote a letter emphasizing that retail shops on the Avenue benefited much more from the street fair than from the dance.

"We pay our fees because the board is supposed to promote our business," Karnes wrote. "The dance isn't the best way to promote it."

After merchants stressed their desire to see an all-day event, Rizos said closing the street for a whole day costs significantly more than shutting it down for just an afternoon and evening.

"We have to have committees that are willing to get money," WGBPA president McDonald said.

Merchants had a host of suggestions on how to raise money for Founders Day. Bernie Levine, who owned People's Pants before it lost its lease, proposed that every merchant on the Avenue donate one item that could be auctioned off to residents and the proceeds donated to Founders Day. He also suggested informing festival-goers that the money for beverages goes to support the event.

"People in the community will pay to support the event," Levine said, "but you have to tell them where the money goes."

Willow Glen resident Ken McKenzie threw out another money-making idea--designating two parking lots on the Avenue for a classic car show, each of which would have corporate sponsors.

"As it turns out, people like to see their name in front of a '32 Roadster," McKenzie said, referring to a specific type of hotrod. "If we get $150-$500 per car, we could generate $40,000, and it doesn't have any cost at all to the association."

Other merchants suggested simply soliciting donations from community members or even charging a fee to all festival-goers. Merchants agreed the latter suggestion was impractical, since people can enter Lincoln Avenue from many different streets.

The meeting ended after nearly an hour of suggestions and ideas.

"Everyone there basically agreed that it was better for them to have the event on Sunday," Rizos said. "It was a very constructive meeting. The merchants who showed up were very vocal and had a lot of helpful hints."

WGBPA will hold a second Founders Day meeting with members of the community sometime in January. This meeting will be organized in conjunction with the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association.

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