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Denison board weighs survey, pilots to encourage later downtown business hours
Summary
Placer AI data showing steady evening foot traffic prompted Main Street leaders and business owners to discuss a retailer survey, pilot late‑hour nights and coordinated promotions to encourage shops to stay open later despite staffing and cost concerns.
Denison Main Street leaders and downtown business owners debated ways to encourage retailers to keep later hours after staff presented Placer AI foot‑traffic data showing activity downtown into the evening.
Sam presented the data, noting hourly activity peaks (around noon and 6 p.m.) and that visitor counts derived from GPS data can undercount children and other visitors without phones. "You can see that people are here late," Sam said, and urged the board to consider how to turn that activity into retail sales.
Business owners and board members discussed the barriers to staying open later — chiefly staffing and payroll costs — and the need for consistent, predictable scheduling so customers know when shops will be open. Suggestions included a retailer survey to measure willingness to pilot later hours, coordinated incentives (coupons, partner discounts, a raffle for survey participants), multi‑business promotions (block or co‑op sponsorships) and phased pilots (extend hours by 30–90 minutes on trial nights).
Several owners noted one‑off events or irregular late hours had failed previously; speakers emphasized that sustained, regular late‑hour nights (for example, weekly or biweekly) are more likely to build customer habit and justify the cost of an extra staff hour. The board directed staff to prepare a business‑owner survey and a pilot plan for consideration.
