Construction hasn’t put halt to downtown festivities
Gilroy – Major downtown construction has forced hard times on many area businesses, but the long-awaited overhaul of Gilroy’s historic core has not sidelined the summer flea market or a host of other events that draw crowds to the area.
The events have simply shifted one block west from their traditional homes along Monterey Street to various side roads and a pair of parking lots off Eigleberry Street.
The downtown’s summer flea market, held on the first and third Saturdays of the month, kicked off last weekend in an Eigleberry parking lot just south of Fourth Street. The event’s former home in the lot at Monterey and Lewis streets is now surrounded by construction equipment and, in coming months, will become the future headquarters of the city’s Garlic Festival Association.
But a different venue has not dampened interest in the event, according to Dave Peoples, a downtown business owner and one of the organizers of the twice-a-month market.
“There was a decent turnout,” he said of the first weekend. “It wasn’t over-run with people but there were people selling and people buying.”
He estimated that a mix of two dozen businesses, including antique and produce stores, set up booths for the market last weekend. On May 20, they will migrate south to the parking lot behind the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce between Fifth and Sixth streets. The event will rotate between the lots through October, when downtown construction is scheduled for completion.
While the seven-month overhaul of downtown streets and sidewalks has burdened many area business owners, they have not given up on the multitude of events that attract customers to the area.
In addition to the summer festival, downtown will once again host a Friday night live concert series on Fifth Street, and the area will once again host a Father’s Day antique show (June 18) and the Garlic City Fun Run, a car show with antique and suped up vehicles. Both events will take place in coming months in the parking lots along Eigleberry, and the car show is expected to spill out onto two block stretch south of Fourth Street, as well as side roads in the area.
A blitz of advertising in local papers, on Web sites, and strategically places signs has business owners hopeful that visitors will continue showing up at their events.
Sue Shalit, owner of Sue’s Coffee Roasting Company on the corner of Fifth and Monterey streets, has built up a faithful group of Friday evening customers who come out for live music. She looked forward to the Friday night concert series outside her shop to bring in even more people, as well as the string of other summer events. This year, she plans to unveil a smoothie booth to lure new customers. She said the events are crucial to the success of businesses during downtown construction.
“They’re really good for us,” she said. “We expect a strong turnout, especially because of the publicity.”
The Streetscape project involves tearing up a two-block stretch of Monterey Street and repaving the road, widening sidewalks and installing new street lamps and other improvements.
To stay abreast of downtown construction, get contact information for area businesses, or to learn about upcoming events, visit www.downtowngilroy.com.
