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Downtown merchants urge change to early street closures after ice festival
Summary
Several Main Street merchants told the Town of Waynesville council that closing Main Street early for evening events cost retail sales and called for clearer communication and different closure timing.
Several downtown merchants told the Town of Waynesville Town Council during public comment that early closures of Main Street during evening events harmed sales and urged the town to change how it closes streets for festivals.
Charlie Trump, a Main Street property owner, said customers left when streets were closed early. “Once the signs went out, most of the people that were coming into town saw that they could not park and they had to leave after 2 p.m. They left,” Trump said. He proposed closing the street for the full day on event dates so visitors know in advance where to park.
Becky Trump, who identified herself as a Main Street merchant, said police announcements at 2 p.m. prompted shoppers to leave and cost small sales. “We literally had people sit down items they had intended to purchase, and they walked away,” she said, adding that even a single lost $5 sale matters in winter months.
Gallery owner Jerry Jackson and retailer Anne Walsh also said merchants feel excluded from event planning and urged better communication with the downtown business community. Jackson requested a community listening session for downtown merchants; Walsh said some closures “kill our business” when there is little street traffic during setup periods.
Merchants suggested alternatives including a full-day closure announced in advance, additional daytime activities before evening events, or event formats like “Art After Dark” that keep shoppers moving along Main Street. Council members said they would pass the comments to the Downtown Waynesville Commission for follow-up.
The merchants’ comments came during the meeting’s public-comment period and did not prompt immediate council action; several consent-agenda items covering festivals were approved later in the meeting.
