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ENLARGE
Wendy Nelsen
After watching a summer pass by without any major events downtown, Maine Street business owner Wendy Nelsen decided to change things.
Nelsen is the president of the recently formed Downtown Merchants Association, a group of business owners who wish to see the downtown area return as the city's gathering place.
“We're aiming to revitalize Maine Street and host quality events downtown again,” Nelsen said from her shop, Candylicious.
Before the merchants association formed, Nelsen went door to door to businesses lining Maine Street and asked owners what their issues and concerns were regarding downtown events.
“I wanted to find the pulse of downtown,” Nelsen said, adding some of the biggest issues during previous Maine Street events were juveniles loitering on sidewalks, fighting, selling of alcohol on the street and parking.
Nelsen planned an organizational meeting at the Old Post Office, which was also attended by a representative from the city, and plans to continue with monthly meetings.
The first event hosted by the Downtown Merchants Association was trick or treating on Maine Street on Halloween — an event which saw sidewalks packed with parents escorting their costumed children from business to business.
“I think the success of our Halloween event opened a lot of eyes,” Nelsen said.
The merchants association is also reaching out to partner with other local entities like the Churchill County Library and the Fallon Chamber of Commerce for upcoming holiday events. Merchants who create a decorative wreath for the library's Deck the Halls Wreath Extravaganza fundraiser will be able to reclaim their wreaths for display in their shops during the city's tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 4 and the chamber's Hometown Christmas celebration on Dec. 5.
Merchants in the association will also have a gingerbread house-making contest in time for the festivities with local residents deciding upon the winner. Nelsen is hoping all shops downtown will participate by having sidewalk sales and specials for holiday shoppers.
“The main goal is bodies on Maine Street, which translates into business,” Nelsen said. “If we're thriving, the city is thriving.”
Looking to the future, Nelsen said the Downtown Merchants Association will begin the “Historic Maine Street Market” in early June, a farmers market held on Maine Street on Saturday mornings. Shoppers will find traditional farmers markets goods —artisan breads, cheeses, local fruits and vegetables — in a family friendly atmosphere.
The market's target audience will be women over 30 years old, Nelsen said, and out-of-town shoppers who head to Fallon's stores for weekly shopping trips. She said she hopes by not closing the street during the middle of the work week, more shops will be in favor of hosting the weekend farmers market.
Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. said this new attempt at a merchants' association on Maine Street looks very positive and more organized than previous attempts. Decades ago, property along Maine Street was owned by just a handful of businessmen, but as times changed more property owners entered the scene, Tedford said.
Impressed by Nelsen's enthusiasm and experience, Tedford said the city is willing to help the Downtown Merchants Association where it can. He said he's pleased with the idea of a farmers market on Saturday mornings because a more traditional farmers market, unlike a street fair atmosphere, won't tax the police department's resources. He's also looking forward to the downtown area becoming a community gathering area again.
“Our goal is to help businesses,” Tedford said, adding the city would happily support other merchant associations outside the Maine Street area.
Nelsen said the Downtown Merchants Association is not strictly for Maine Street shops, and she invites any business interested in joining. There are no fees to join and member businesses are asked to participate in planned events like buying candy to hand out for Halloween trick or treating or providing space for a gingerbread house.
“The city poured a lot of money into this downtown renovation. It's the heart of the city, and they're encouraging growth. We have 30 progressive businesses that want things to happen,” Nelsen said.
For information about the Downtown Merchants Association, contact Nelsen at Candylicious, 116 S. Maine St., 423-1100, or Vice President Kathy Openshaw at Openshaw Saddlery, 105 S. Maine St., 423-8291.
Nelsen is the president of the recently formed Downtown Merchants Association, a group of business owners who wish to see the downtown area return as the city's gathering place.
“We're aiming to revitalize Maine Street and host quality events downtown again,” Nelsen said from her shop, Candylicious.
Before the merchants association formed, Nelsen went door to door to businesses lining Maine Street and asked owners what their issues and concerns were regarding downtown events.
“I wanted to find the pulse of downtown,” Nelsen said, adding some of the biggest issues during previous Maine Street events were juveniles loitering on sidewalks, fighting, selling of alcohol on the street and parking.
Nelsen planned an organizational meeting at the Old Post Office, which was also attended by a representative from the city, and plans to continue with monthly meetings.
The first event hosted by the Downtown Merchants Association was trick or treating on Maine Street on Halloween — an event which saw sidewalks packed with parents escorting their costumed children from business to business.
“I think the success of our Halloween event opened a lot of eyes,” Nelsen said.
The merchants association is also reaching out to partner with other local entities like the Churchill County Library and the Fallon Chamber of Commerce for upcoming holiday events. Merchants who create a decorative wreath for the library's Deck the Halls Wreath Extravaganza fundraiser will be able to reclaim their wreaths for display in their shops during the city's tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 4 and the chamber's Hometown Christmas celebration on Dec. 5.
Merchants in the association will also have a gingerbread house-making contest in time for the festivities with local residents deciding upon the winner. Nelsen is hoping all shops downtown will participate by having sidewalk sales and specials for holiday shoppers.
“The main goal is bodies on Maine Street, which translates into business,” Nelsen said. “If we're thriving, the city is thriving.”
Looking to the future, Nelsen said the Downtown Merchants Association will begin the “Historic Maine Street Market” in early June, a farmers market held on Maine Street on Saturday mornings. Shoppers will find traditional farmers markets goods —artisan breads, cheeses, local fruits and vegetables — in a family friendly atmosphere.
The market's target audience will be women over 30 years old, Nelsen said, and out-of-town shoppers who head to Fallon's stores for weekly shopping trips. She said she hopes by not closing the street during the middle of the work week, more shops will be in favor of hosting the weekend farmers market.
Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. said this new attempt at a merchants' association on Maine Street looks very positive and more organized than previous attempts. Decades ago, property along Maine Street was owned by just a handful of businessmen, but as times changed more property owners entered the scene, Tedford said.
Impressed by Nelsen's enthusiasm and experience, Tedford said the city is willing to help the Downtown Merchants Association where it can. He said he's pleased with the idea of a farmers market on Saturday mornings because a more traditional farmers market, unlike a street fair atmosphere, won't tax the police department's resources. He's also looking forward to the downtown area becoming a community gathering area again.
“Our goal is to help businesses,” Tedford said, adding the city would happily support other merchant associations outside the Maine Street area.
Nelsen said the Downtown Merchants Association is not strictly for Maine Street shops, and she invites any business interested in joining. There are no fees to join and member businesses are asked to participate in planned events like buying candy to hand out for Halloween trick or treating or providing space for a gingerbread house.
“The city poured a lot of money into this downtown renovation. It's the heart of the city, and they're encouraging growth. We have 30 progressive businesses that want things to happen,” Nelsen said.
For information about the Downtown Merchants Association, contact Nelsen at Candylicious, 116 S. Maine St., 423-1100, or Vice President Kathy Openshaw at Openshaw Saddlery, 105 S. Maine St., 423-8291.
