Current Issue: February 2008

Featured Articles:

Surveying the Landscape

Artspaces

Downtown Development Update

Business Minute

Surveying the Landscape

When it comes to the retail health of Downtown Frederick, people have strong opinions – and they aren’t shy about sharing them.  

More than 1,000 people completed the online Downtown Retail Survey that was conducted by the City’s Department of Economic Development and Downtown Frederick Partnership to assess public sentiment regarding the types of retail that should be added downtown, including whether or not chains should be included in the mix.  Another 315 people took time during the busy holiday season to share their thoughts on the subject with volunteers who canvassed the streets of Downtown Frederick to get additional feedback.

City and Partnership staff members currently are pouring over the results of the survey and plan to have a full analysis available for public review and comment later this spring.  In the meantime, a series of focus group discussions are underway to get additional input on the topic.

An initial review of the results indicates people have

strong feelings about how to strike and maintain a

healthy retail mix in Downtown Frederick.  The challenge

facing City and Partnership staff, however, is to balance

those emotions with solid research and “lessons learned”

from other cities that resemble Frederick in size and

make-up.

“This is a classic discussion of evaluating the pros and

cons of market-based solutions versus regulatory

approaches,” said Richard Griffin, director of Economic

Development for the City. “We take the issue very

seriously and look forward to issuing a set of balanced

and objective recommendations.”

The 2007 Retail Market Analysis conducted for the

City of Frederick by BBP Associates and Strategonomics

Global Network suggested that Frederick consider a

formula followed by other cities, such as Old Town

Alexandria, Vir., which has a small percentage (approxi-

mately six percent) of national chains in its historic district.

That city also has adopted an ordinance which requires

retail uses on first-floor spaces throughout the main retail

corridor in an effort to create a vibrant and pedestrian-

friendly shopping environment. 

In an effort to get a better sense of how those measures work in Old Town Alexandria, a group of 20 Frederick stakeholders toured the city on Jan. 28 and talked with government officials and retailers about many of the elements that go into creating exciting and successful downtowns.  They discussed marketing tactics, tourism, economic development strategies and planning policies – including the city’s first floor retail-only requirement – and the impact they are having on Old Town Alexandria’s efforts to remain competitive in the region.

Jasmine Sneed, marketing director for Everedy Square and Shab Row was one of those who participated in the tour.  It left her thinking about how a retail-only requirement might work in Frederick.  “I think requiring retail uses on the first floor is something we should explore in Frederick,” she says, “but only in a very defined area because there are parts of downtown that are better suited to that than other areas.” 

Knowing that Talbot’s has enjoyed great success with its Everedy Square location, she also took note of how national chains blend in with Old Town Alexandria’s more traditional independent businesses.  “I think chains have the potential to contribute to a vibrant downtown but they have to be thoughtfully chosen and ideally fill a niche that is missing or not served by existing businesses,” she says.  “The challenge is to make sure there are measures to protect existing businesses and encourage any chains that do come in to be good corporate citizens.”

That sentiment is echoed by Paul Thompson, owner of Ec'clectibles on East Patrick Street.  “There is a synergy that can be attained with a small percentage of recognized national retailers sprinkled in the mix.  It adds a familiarity and perhaps comfort level to visitors as well as local residents when they recognize a store,“ he says.  But he also has some reservations about ‘chains on Main.’ “What doesn't get said enough is that a huge amount of the revenue taken in by a national retailer leaves the area, while the converse is true.  Money spent with a local independent retailer largely stays in the local economy.”

Long-time downtown business owner Clyde Hicks understands the concerns many business owners have regarding any kind of regulated retail policy.  After listening carefully to the Alexandria representatives share their insights, he says one thing became very clear to him.  “As the experiences of Old Town Alexandria showed, developing any type of public policy regarding the percentage of national retailers or first floor uses promises to be a long and challenging process,” he says.  “A first floor retail ordinance and an 80/20 mix of independents and appropriate chains are good options to explore further.”  

Regardless of their opinions on these issues, nearly everyone involved agrees they need to put emotions aside and look at the challenges and opportunities with a clear-eyed perspective. “It is always interesting to look at places that are similar to Frederick and learn more about the kinds of things they have in their economic development ‘tool box,’” says Kara Norman, executive director of Downtown Frederick Partnership.  “But ultimately it becomes a matter of thinking about what those policies might mean to us and whether they would be a good fit for Frederick.”

Be sure to check out future issues of the Partnership Press for details on the final results on the Downtown Retail Survey and the process of determining how those results will be used to shape the future of retail in Downtown Frederick.

Artspaces

ArtNext brings art to life in Frederick

When the members of ArtNext mark the organization’s first anniversary this month, they can take pride in the fact that they accomplished more in one year than most groups hope to accomplish in their first five.

Several of Frederick’s popular artistic offerings, including the Artists’ Market at the Cultural Arts Center and Fall Fashion Week events, are the brainchild of the organization which calls itself a social network of creative people who want to help “reshape the identity of the arts culture in Frederick County.” 

The group has put together another busy year of events, including a Feb. 28 discussion of Richard Florida’s popular book, The Rise of the Creative Class, which examines the impact creativity has on local economies and communities.   The event will take place at noon and 7 pm at the Cultural Arts Center and is free of charge.

Limiting the cost of its events is a major goal of the organization, says Jen Dobbins, facility manager for the Cultural Arts Center and chairperson of ArtNext.  “We try to keep everything we do low price so that we can get as many people involved as possible,” she says.   The group’s regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month at the Cultural Arts Center at 7pm and are open to anyone who is passionate about the arts and interested in sharing that passion with others. 

Thanks to Frederick’s Arts and Entertainment District designation from the state, Dobbins says the number of arts enthusiasts in Frederick continues to grow. “There is a lot of new, upcoming and interesting art in Frederick,” Dobbins says, adding that the A&E District designation is “one of the best things that could happen to Frederick.”  She says she has seen how A&E tax credits have helped revitalize Cumberland, where there is an entire street devoted to the arts and entertainment.  Even though Frederick’s A&E district is much larger, Dobbins is still excited about the possibilities. “Seeing the success of Cumberland helps us get excited about what we can do here in Frederick to ‘up the ante’ on the arts,” she says.

In addition to the Richard Florida book discussions, the group has a number of other exciting events planned for 2008, including:  

Women’s History Month Concert:  March 9, 2 pm. Free admission.

Artists’ Market: March 30, April 27, June 22, July 27, Aug. 24, Sept. 28, Oct. 26 from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Cultural Arts Center.  Free admission.

72 PlayFest (in conjunction with fool martyr productions and the Frederick Arts Council): June 5 – 8.  Creative teams will be given 72 hours to write, produce and stage original plays.  There will be a launch party on Thursday, June 5 and the plays will be presented Sunday, June 8.  

Frederick Fashion Week: Sept. 18 – 20.  Celebrate the best of fashion in Frederick with a cocktail reception and two nights of fashion shows.  $15/day or $30 for all three days. 

Holiday Artists Market: Nov. 28. 10 am to 5 pm featuring live acoustic music, free gift wrapping, and free coffee.   Followed by NoMa Lounge from 8 pm to 12 am with live entertainment by a DJ and local bands as well as a wine/coffee/beer bar.

All events are held at the Cultural Arts Center of Frederick County unless otherwise noted.

In addition to these events, ArtNext has several other projects planned as well, including: the annual ArtNext members visual art show; spring and summer NoMa Lounges; movie nights; and bi-monthly free music concerts.  Check the Frederick Arts Council website (www.frederickartscouncil.org) for the latest information on the dates and times of these events as well as the release of a compilation CD of original music by local bands.

Business Minute

When it comes to love, the Federal Reserve has nothing on Cupid.

Even as consumers say they are tightening their belts and limiting their spending in light today's touch economic news, Americans admit they will still be buying something special for their sweethearts this Valentine's Day.

According to the National Retial Federation's (NRF) 2008 Valentine's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survery, the average consumer will spend $122.98 on Valentine's Day, up from $119.67 last year.  The NRF is forecasting total 2008 Valentine's Day retail sales will reach $17.02 billion, with almost half of those polled (48.2 percent) indicating they plan to spend money on a special night out with their Valentine.

In addition to offering a fantastic variety of restaurants for romantic Valentine's Day dinners, Downtown Frederick also offers many of the other treats American's say they will spend money on this Feb. 14, including greeting cards, candy, gift cards, flowers, jewelry, and clothing.   

Armed with this information, make sure you are reaching out to your customers to let them know you have what they want to give this Valentine's Day.  Consider direct mail postcards, advertisting or special in-store promotions to make the most of this opportunity to boost your mid-winter sales.