By Mark Rutkowski, Heritage Newspapers
With thousands of extra people along Fort Street Saturday, you
would expect merchants to have done a booming business, right?
Not necessarily, but many of those who saw a decline in usual
sales say the long-term benefits from Cruisin’ Downriver likely will outweigh
those dips.
John Hawkes, manager of the Mickey Shorr car audio store in
Lincoln Park, said sales were down about 30 percent compared to a typical
Saturday. He attributed the decline to the fact that the side streets around his
business were blocked off, making it tough for customers to get to the
store.
He was quick to add, though, that the increased visibility may
well attract a lot of additional customers over time.
"We had a lot of people slowing down and looking at
us," Hawkes said, adding he thought the city of Lincoln Park did a great
job preparing for the cruise. "I saw the street cleaners out last week, and
I know they cut the grass to help shine up the city. I think (the cruise) was
good for the community."
Like Hawkes, Chris Nordwall said business was down a little at
the District Drink store he manages near Oak Street in Wyandotte, but by 4 p.m.,
walk-in business was starting to increase.
Nordwall said many of the store’s regular customers knew to
come in Friday rather than Saturday, and that things were a little slower than
normal because of that.
The store opens at 8 a.m. regularly, and Nordwall said Saturday
afternoon that employees were prepared to stay later than the regular 10 p.m.
closing time if need be to handle cruise customers.
Personally, Nordwall said he was a fan of the cruise. It was
clear, too, because when he wasn’t needed in the store, he was occupying a lawn
chair he had set up in the parking lot so he could admire the cars going by.
Ed Clemente, president of the Southern Wayne County Chamber of
Commerce and one of the lead organizers of the cruise, said Monday that while
restaurants and taverns did the extra business they expected, it was nice to see
other retail outlets have fun on Saturday.
"Hopefully, people looked at it as a one-day thing and
realize it was good for the entire community," Clemente said, adding he saw
many businesses take a tailgating approach to the day.
"I was going up and down the route and would get invited
into businesses," Clemente said, adding many had daylong parties complete
with food and music. "Some of them had their own DJs for the day."
One business that saw anything but a drop in sales was the
McDonald’s restaurant in front of the Super K store in Southgate. Sandwiched
between car clubs and cruise sponsors, the business was hopping the entire day.
"We didn’t anticipate we would be that busy, but it was
really, really, really busy," said Manager Susan Brokamp, who was on duty
Saturday.
Brokamp said Monday the restaurant ran out of several items,
including straws and change. They also called in extra workers from other
restaurants, and those employees brought supplies with them.
Still, they didn’t run out of the most important thing —
food.
"We never run out of that," she said. "We may
run out of the little things, but we never run out of food."
And even if it did cause a few headaches, Brokamp said she
liked the cruise.
"It was nice," she said. "It was a little hectic
to drive in it, but it was nice seeing all the old cars."
