The Lancaster County Convention Center has long been billed as a boon to downtown businesses and a catalyst for local revitalization. Last week’s American Quilt Society show at the center, perhaps the largest expo of its kind to ever be held in Lancaster, could be viewed as a significant litmus test for that longstanding claim. NewsLanc surveyed 23 downtown shops this week to see how much their business was up during the course of the show.
The result, averaged from locations in close proximity to the event as well as some several blocks north, showed a rise in business of roughly 21%.
Businesses within a block of the convention center—including the Tropical Smoothie Café, Isaac’s Downtown, Ric’s Bread, and the Penn Square Grille—all estimated an increase of business near or above 100%.
But not all shops near the center saw such an influx of quilters. Character’s Pub, a classy bar and restaurant tucked away near the back of Isaac’s, only experienced a 5-10% jump. About the same increase was estimated by Annie Bailey’s, which shares the first block of East King with the Marriott.
Tony’s Fashion’s, located directly across from a convention center entrance on South Queen, actually saw a drop in business last week. According to the owner, local customers were deterred due to parking limitations from the show.
Most businesses north of Orange Street did not see gains above 5%. Rachel’s Creperie, Spiro Gyros, Zap & Co., the Fractured Prune, and Square One Coffee all reported no significant up tick in business from the show. Both Gusto and the Alley Cat, however, estimated a jump in business around 20%.
Two significant variables are worth mentioning. On the optimistic side of things, some shop managers noted that the quilt show crowd—predominantly made up of older women—might have been uniquely less inclined to explore what the downtown has to offer. On the other hand, some vendors asserted that a performance at the Fulton last weekend may have made the quilt show returns appear more significant than they actually were.
I wish we would have been as smart as Phoexville, Pa. What a great experience in strolling their downtown revitalization. They went after FOOT TRAFFIC and got it. Great little businesses are doing ok and the public is patronizing stronger each week.