By By GREG KATSKI
Community Editor
Two things weigh heavy on the minds of some Washington retailers outside the downtown district — the Citizens for Revitalization’s reinvestment strategy for downtown and the upcoming opening of the U.S. Highway 17 bypass at Washington.
Business owners have varying opinions about the strategy and bypass.
Frank’s Pizza &Italian Restaurant co-owner Vinny Cilluffo said “only time will tell” if the revitalization plan works. Either way, he doesn’t think it will affect his business on John Small Avenue much, if at all.
Cilluffo said patrons have pushed for him and his brother, Tony, to move their popular restaurant downtown, but, he asked, “Where’s the parking?”
Clarence Tetterton, owner of Tetterton’s Shoe Shop, gave the same reason for moving his retail store from Water Street to Hackney Avenue years ago.
“I feel we’re better off where we are,” Tetterton said. “One reason is the parking (downtown).”
Some business owners around town have complained about favoritism being shown to Main Street stores, but Tetterton doesn’t count himself in that group.
“As far as feeling left out, I don’t, really,” he said. “Of course, they’ve got the waterfront as a calling card.”
Thomson TV Company Inc. is another longtime local business that moved from the downtown district. Thomson, a certified RadioShack dealer, was originally located on Third Street, before moving to Washington Square Mall, and, finally, West 15th Street.
Chris Norris, manager of Thomson, said the retail store has done better business since moving from Third Street, but he still sees the city focusing on the downtown district.
“I guess there’s a lot of emphasis on the downtown area,” he said.
Washington Mayor Archie Jennings acknowledged that the city has been focusing most of its attention on the waterfront/downtown district.
“The reason for that, in part, is so we can section off downtown and work on it,” Jennings said, noting the reinvestment plan. “It’s an area where we can measure results.”
The mayor said if the plan starts to show results downtown, it will be implemented in what he considers the city’s other two distinct districts: the 15th Street corridor and bypass corridor.
“Hopefully, the three of them can triangulate commercial activity in Washington,” Jennings said.
The mayor offered words of encouragement to business owners outside the downtown district.
“To them, I would say, ‘Just hold on, we’re coming your way with a process that works,’” he said.
But what about retailers like Note’s Cafe on Market Street that find themselves between those districts or on the outskirts of those districts?
Marc Brun, owner of Note’s Cafe, considers his comfortable coffee shop worlds away from Main Street, although it’s in the downtown district.
“I’m on Pluto in the universe of downtown Washington,” he said.
Still, Brun is a strong supporter of the reinvestment plan.
“Any growth for Washington is positive growth,” he said.
Brun, who is heading up this year’s Music in the Streets, said business owners throughout the city need to “band together as a community.”
Billy Jefferson, owner of Big Bargain Furniture on Main Street, echoed Brun’s sentiments.
“We need to work together to fill these stores up,” he said.
Jefferson said he is a strong supporter of the reinvestment plan.
“I think it will help the town as a whole,” he said.
Business owners throughout the city have concerns with the bypass and its influence on the local economy.
“The bypass is going to be good for those traveling through, but I don’t believe it’ll bring people into the downtown district,” Jefferson said.
Jennings believes business owners will have to take a new approach to getting travelers off the bypass and into their businesses.
“Before hand, the downtown visitor and business traveler were one in the same. Now, we have to get someone to stop off the bypass and move into 15th Street and downtown,” he said.
Brun believes the bypass will test the resolve of a lot of retailers, especially those like the Dairy Palace and Riverwalk Steaks that are located near the existing U.S. 17 bridge in downtown Washington.
Retailers that rely on local traffic said they are not concerned about the bypass.
Petals and Produce co-owner Tom Van Staalduinen said, “I don’t think it’ll hurt business. I don’t know if it’ll help.”
Staalduinen, who has a retail store on John Small Avenue, said he has “wonderful customers.”
“They want us to succeed,” he added.
Tetterton said he isn’t worried about the bypass “since most of our business is local.”