Merchants look for boost from motorcycle rally
Posted on Friday, October 5, 2007
Dickson Street is known as the area where much of the action for Bikes, Blues & BBQ takes place.
With an influx of thousands motorcyclists for the week, though, there is potential for businesses not on Dickson Street to get a boost of customers. Some establishments make an effort to promote the event and welcome the bikers with signs and specials.
Belinda Booth, owner of Salon Blais on Sunbridge Drive, set up a sign in front of her business welcoming the bikers.
"My husband and I both ride a bike. We just love Bike, Blues & BBQ," she said. "I just think it's a good thing for everybody. I just want them to feel welcome."
Booth said she wasn't necessarily expecting additional business because of the sign, but she always looks forward to the annual event, which she said benefits Fayetteville.
"If they wanted to come in, we would cater to them," she said.
Her husband, Bradley, owns Hutch's Sports Bar in Colt Square and is preparing a sign to point visitors to the location, she said.
The rally has grown so much over the years, bikers need places to go away from Dickson Street, Booth said.
"We're definitely not by Dickson Street," she said.
Several liquor stores away from Dickson Street, including Crossover Liquor at Crossover Road and Mission Boulevard and City Liquor at 15 th and School, set up signs welcoming bikers.
Bill Eddy's Motorsports at Interstate 540 and Wedington Drive posted signs to welcome the bikers and announce it has extended hours this week.
According to its sign, the Pizza Hut at 1754 N. College Ave. is offering a 10-percent discount for bikers.
"It's just something we've always enjoyed every year," manager Kim Wilson said. "It just brings in more business, and we enjoy visiting with the bikers when they come in."
The Northwest Arkansas Psychic Center, 700 N. College Ave., also set up a sign aimed at bikers. It states "Welcome bikers ! Special readings. Walk-ins welcome."
"We want to welcome them to be part of the community," owner Connie Marks said.
Andrea Foren, owner of Maxine's Tap Room, said she hopes to get good business this year because of the rally. Last year, the bar was closed to undergo a renovation after a fire.
At 107 N. Block Ave., the bar is located near Dickson Street but is closer to the Fayetteville Square than West Avenue and Dickson Street, where attendees traditionally congregate.
The main thing the bar has done to prepare is order extra beer, snacks and koozies for bottles and cans, Foren said.
Last year, the Square was quiet, she said, so it is difficult to say what it will be like this year.
"Last year, I was up on the Square and you could hear a pin drop," Foren said. "Hopefully we'll draw a crowd. It's just kind of (wait and ) see what happens. "
The Square may have a little more potential to draw visitors this year now that its centerpiece, the Old Post Office, again contains a restaurant. Urban Table opened there in early August.
Judy Hall, who co-owns the business with her husband, Rhett, said they hope the Square can draw people looking for a break from the heavily crowded Dickson Street area. They have put up several signs at the business welcoming bikers to show that they are open, she said.
"We're just trying to get (word ) out that we're open and on the Square," Hall said. "We have the patio open for smoking patrons. We just opened the patio this week.
Like Foren, Hall said they aren't quite sure what to expect since this is the first time Urban Table will be open for the rally.
"We really don't know because the majority of the activity takes place on Dickson Street," she said. "We're planning for additional volume."
Not every business on the Square looks forward to the rally.
Brandon Karn, owner of Jammin Java, said the event doesn't do much for his business, as few bikers come in and most locals stay away because of the increased traffic. He said he hasn't made an effort to promote during the event or draw in customers.
Similarly, Cindy Arsaga of Fayetteville's Arsaga's coffeehouses said she doesn't see an increase in the sales of her nonalcoholic beverages during this time.
"In fact, it tends to hurt our business," she said. "They don't go to our stores. They go to bars. We actually decrease the order for baked goods during the time they're here."
Arsaga's does not do anything to commemorate the occasion, she said.
"I haven't encouraged them to come in," she said.
Shea Hamm, owner of The Perk at Wedington, said he wasn't able to do a promotion in conjunction with the rally, but he would appreciate any business that does come his way. Even if The Perk doesn't see additional business, there's a chance the economic impact the rally has might put some money back his way at some point, he said.
"I like it," said Hamm, a former employee at Bill Eddy's. "I think it's a good thing."
Hamm said he is in the process of trying to obtain a beer license, which he hopes will be in place by next year's Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
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