Shoppers at the Emporium on Thursday afternoon in January 2016. Blogfinger photo ©
January 7, 2016.
Paul Goldfinger Editor @Blogfinger
It’s the same thing every year after the holidays. The consumer traffic downtown is slow, and the weather is depressing. The merchants complain to their lawyers and accountants that they can’t survive another off season. But then comes springtime, business picks up, and suddenly the complaints stop.
Currently, there is the superficial impression of extra bleakness. It’s a Thursday morning, and a handful of shoppers are cruising the Avenue. Among the stores that are closed today are Seasons (new management, ) Patricia’s, (retirement), Surf and Skate shop (vacation), Pizza Shoppe (? new management,) the Daily Bread (closed ; buyer sought,) Fusion (fire), and Yvonne’s (fire.)
According to one merchant, the single most important business in terms of attracting shoppers to town is Nagle’s. When they are closed on Tuesday, all the businesses experience reduced activity. People like to visit Nagle’s because of the historic conversion of the original pharmacy. Nagles’ is the place to be and then, let’s go shopping.
There are too few eateries in town. Yvonne’s was burned out, and that building is still just a hole in the ground. Some visitors forget about the Starving Artist because it is off the beaten path.
But there is a true year-round group of businesses that offer fine off-season destinations regardless of the closed shops. Anchoring the group are Favorite Things, Cheese on Main, the Emporium, Gingerbreads, and the Comfort Zone. Filling out the winter downtown core group are Seagrass Restaurant, Tina’s, the Surf Shop, April Cornell, OG Trading Company, Pet Boutique, the OG Hardware Store, Flower Shop, the OG Bakery, Just Treats (candy,) and a few others. If we missed any, let us know (blogfinger@verizon.net)
So don’t pronounce Main Avenue dead just because it is the off-season. OG is still a great place for strolling, eating and shopping even if the coterie is somewhat reduced in numbers. And the shopping is superior to A. Park.
YVES MONTAND “C’est Si Bon” (It’s so good)