Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Business Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Chamber of Commerce asks sign committee for seasonal options to highlight open downtown businesses
Summary
The Chamber of Commerce asked the Sign Advisory Committee to consider seasonal ways to help customers identify open businesses downtown — suggestions included sidewalk signs, coordinated 'open' lighting, flags and school artwork; the committee warned against broadly permitting sandwich boards.
James Voyages, membership manager for the Chamber of Commerce, told the committee members that local retailers are concerned off-season patrons cannot readily tell which shops are open because neighboring storefronts have windows papered for seasonal reasons.
"From January through March, you can have a sidewalk sign to make sure your business is visible," Voyages said, proposing seasonal sidewalk signs and a uniform 'open' light as possible remedies. He also suggested partnering with schools to post seasonal artwork in windows but said staffing constraints make that difficult during short holiday windows.
Committee members acknowledged the issue but urged caution. Ben Norman said the advisory board should not be expected to solve the entire problem and warned that permitting sandwich boards could be a slippery slope. Paul Wolf recommended options that already exist under current guidelines, such as flags and chalkboards leaned against storefronts. "A lot of people use the American flag as an 'open' sign," Wolf said, noting that such flags are present at several open stores downtown.
The committee and the Chamber agreed to continue the conversation; Voyages said he would bring proposals back to his membership and rejoin committee meetings to refine options that preserve the island’s streetscape while helping open businesses be seen.
