The Garden Grove Downtown Business Association monthly meeting was held last week at Doug’s Downtown Grill.
Items discussed included a review of the Main Street Commission meeting, recapping of the recent VW car show, the Police Department's National Night Out event and a proposal for a "Promotional Events Manager."
"Events bring people to Main Street," said treasurer Scott Weimer. "The VW car show not only paid for itself, it actually made us money."
The Garden Grove Downtown Business Association monthly meeting was held last week at Doug’s Downtown Grill.
Items discussed included a review of the Main Street Commission meeting, recapping of the recent VW car show, the Police Department's National Night Out event and a proposal for a "Promotional Events Manager."
"Events bring people to Main Street," said treasurer Scott Weimer. "The VW car show not only paid for itself, it actually made us money."
Other possible events being considered for Main Street include a motorcycle club rally, a garden show, and a "Jacuzzi and Brew" event.
"It's unlimited what we can do," said Doug Coleman, owner of Doug's Downtown Grill. "What we want to do is generate cash flow for Main Street and bring in new faces."
Another idea that surfaced was a throw-back to the car hop days of the 1950s and 60s — with a simple menu from Main Street restaurants — served at customers' cars during one of the yearly events.
The business owners are working together to make their association even stronger, while working on marketing Main Street. The idea is to have events that encourage the community to come out and mingle with other people.
The area along Harbor Boulevard from the city of Anaheim to the Westminster border has already been declared an official entertainment zone by the city.
Business member Peter Katz said that previously the association had proposed having a portion of the bed tax that is collected along Harbor Boulevard go to also support Historic Main Street and to also make that area designated for entertainment.
Also discussed was the speed limit on Historic Main Street, which is currently 15 mph; there was talk of what it would take to enforce a safe limit, but that is something that needs to be evaluated by the city’s traffic engineer. A formal request for review was submitted to city staff.
Membership renewals for the Historical Main Street Downtown Business Association were discussed, which are $2 a week or $100 per year for business and property owners or $1 per week for associate members.
"These modest dues, allow us to continue funding special events like the Main Street Car Show, the Taste of Main Street, the Community Health Fair Expo, the Police Department’s National Night Out and other special improvement items such as the Arch Gateway project, the lamp post refurbishment and the recent street bench and flag replacements," said Weimer.
Weimer said that the association and its leadership team also serves as representatives between businesses, local government, neighborhood associations, as well as for the general public.
"Through our activities and resources, the Downtown Business Association is able to promote and protect Historic Main Street’s values, aesthetics and parking preservation, thus doing our best to maintain Garden Grove’s Downtown as being an excellent place to work, shop and live," he said.
Weimer asked for the continued support of membership in order to improve and protect Main Street’s "character and charm."
The Main Street Commission cancelled its meeting last week in honor of former commissioner Malcolm Pecor, who died recently after a long illness. Commissioners had planned to tackle a hot topic: live music on Main Street.
The main item on the agenda of concern to business owners was a vote to recommend a zone modification on Historic Main Street to include "Live Entertainment in Restaurants," without the existing requirement of special permits and fees.
The item, still under consideration, will now go before the Planning Commission, with many believing it will pass, thus making it so Main Street businesses will not have to get a Conditional Use Permit to have the live entertainment.
