Members of the local Business Improvement Area deserve kudos for getting together at the Civic Centre last night to solicit ideas and hammer out strategies to revitalize the downtown core in the face of Wal-Mart’s opening here in January.
Most on hand admitted they have been losing to Wal-Mart over the past three months. A couple of Scott Street stores have shut their doors since word came out the “big box” retailer was coming to town, and a town councillor last week said there were rumours another one was about to follow suit.
But rather than wave the white flag or turn turtle, what’s being described as the largest gathering of BIA members in more than a decade attracted some solid feedback as well as concrete action—chiefly the formation of five committees to examine various aspects of the “Wal-Mart factor.”
The challenge now, of course, is to keep that momentum going.
Talk can be cheap, and the BIA does have a reputation of spinning its wheels, so to speak. As Robin’s Donuts owner Guy Donaldson noted, they were talking about flags and parking 10 years ago—and still are today.
This time, though, the mood seems different. Scott Street merchants realize they’re in a fight to survive—and must be willing to offer new promotions, different hours, and easier access in order to compete with Wal-Mart.
Last night’s meeting did not end until people were signed up on committees and dates set for follow-up gatherings. In a nutshell, the BIA looks ready to take the bull by the horns.
Then again, it has no choice. Allowing this fresh burst of enthusiasm and resolve to slip through their collective fingers is just not an option this time around.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
