Posted: Monday, Jul 19th, 2010
BY: Jill Fier
John Seward, program director for Downtown Brookings Inc., says he wants both residents and visitors to see the city’s downtown business district as a destination.
“It would be great if people think of downtown Brookings when they’re looking for something to do. There’s always something going on here.”
DBI is a nonprofit corporation working to stimulate economic development in downtown Brookings and to promote it as an exciting place to shop, work, play, live and invest.
Seward says while fundraising and economic development are important components of DBI, its purpose is more than that. “Those go hand-in-hand with any of the events we do. It’s about economic development, but not just economic development. We’re here for community building, creating a sense of place downtown.”
DBI President Kris Struwe agreed. “We have a dynamic downtown, and a lot of cities either sink or swim, so to speak, based around their downtown area. There’s a lot of tax benefits, things of that nature, that the city needs to drive.”
Thriving downtown
Struwe said Brookings has a thriving downtown, with a rare 3 percent vacancy rate. The diversified area boasts residences, retail and service businesses, and more.
“The downtown environment has started to go by the wayside in some places because of the big box stores. It’s tough to keep up. … But a lot of people buy downtown here.
“People like to complain that we don’t have enough parking in downtown Brookings. That’s a good problem to have. That means people are shopping and eating here.”
Struwe said the job of the DBI board of directors is to encourage growth in the area. Besides attracting visitors, the group is working to attract entrepreneurs as well, as both are important to the city’s tax base.
One way the city is attracting people downtown is with its new Streetscape.
The nearly $4 million Main Avenue reconstruction in 2008 and 2009 updated and beautified the city’s oldest business district with new under- and above-ground infrastructure. Now shoppers and visitors tour downtown on new sidewalks and streets and enjoy new landscaping.
Seward says the improvements have made a big difference and are attracting more people here.
“I think a lot of retailers would admit that. Some weren’t happy about the cost, but there’s nothing that can be done about that. It’s in the past. What we have now is a really good-looking downtown that people should take advantage of as much as possible,” Seward said.
“That’s part of my job, to help retailers and the rest of the community take as much advantage of this new Streetscape as we can.”
‘It was all worth it’
While opinions in favor or against the Streetscape project were strong, Struwe believes the cost, time and inconvenience of construction were well worth it in the end. Some businesses are reporting recent increases in customers.
She thinks people from outside the community are taking advantage as well.
“All you have to do is look around. We have more compliments from people who are coming from out of town. They’re visiting the area, and first thing they do is look down Main and see our trees and flower baskets.”
Not wanting to take the downtown visitors for granted, merchants are making ongoing improvements in the business district, Struwe said. Some shops have updated their shops’ facades.
Downtown planners are also exploring the possible development of “pocket parks” along Main Avenue. In the future, open areas may be turned into green spaces, improving downtown aesthetics even more and inviting people to linger and relax.
And DBI officials say they are continually working to attract a younger crowd, including South Dakota State University students, downtown and convince shoppers that they don’t have to leave the city or even Main Avenue to find almost anything they need.
Seward hopes two upcoming, coinciding events – the second annual Taste of Brookings and the annual Crazy Days sales and festivities – bring both returning and new visitors to the business district.
The downtown culinary throwdown takes place Saturday, July 31, on Main Avenue.
Seward said the event features a dozen area eateries preparing dishes for ticketholders to sample. The restaurants are competing in three food categories – four feet, two feet, and vegetarian.
Dozen competitors
Competitors are: Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge, Backyard Grill, Brookings Country Club, Sun-dried Tomato Pizzeria, Boss’ Pizza & Chicken, Fireside Restaurant & Lounge, Pavillion Bar & Grill, BraVo’s, Cottonwood Bistro, George’s Pizza, The Ram, and 1481 Grille.
Activities get started at 5 p.m. with a social hour, and tasting lasts from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets for at least 15 tastings, plus entry into a raffle, cost $20 apiece and are already on sale. Judges award prizes for first place in each category, and the public names an overall winner.
Besides the tasting tickets and the cost of drinks, most of the Saturday activities are free, and there’s no admission.
Seward said three local bands – Sonic Screwdriver, Conduit Music, and Alex Haiar and the Moonshiners – will provide entertainment over the course of the evening. Other activities include a bison ropin’ competition, inflatables and kids’ games, a beer corral, watermelon eating contest, farmer’s tan contest, and pheasant poo bingo.
Seward said last year’s event was a success and attracted about 600 people. He wants to see 1,500 attend in 2010.
In case of rain, Taste of Brookings will move to the city Park and Rec building on Main Avenue.
Proceeds back to DBI
Proceeds from the event go back to DBI to help pay for other programming and downtown amenities.
Taste of Brookings happens at the same time as Crazy Days, which is scheduled for Friday, July 30, and Saturday, July 31.
Extended store hours, as well as sidewalk, street and in-store sales, are planned for Friday, July 30, in downtown Brookings. Other Friday Crazy Days activities include a variety of kids’ activities, Kettle Korn, free watermelon and a seed-spitting contest, book signing, crafts, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Music on Main and more.
A kid’s tractor pedal pull starts with registration at 5 p.m.
Store sales and kids’ games resume Saturday. One highlight of that day is Gold Medal Gymnastic clinics at 9-9:45 a.m. for first through fourth grade, 10-10:45 for fifth through eighth grade, a show from 12:30 to 1 p.m., and open gym until 1:30.
Main Avenue on Saturday will also feature free carriage rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., all-day music and inflatables. Then Crazy Days events transition into Taste of Brookings, which winds down at midnight.
Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.
