Where History Comes Alive Everyday. Well let’s hope not because the person who has Main Street in our current economic slide is history and I for one would rather he not come back to life on our Main Street. For years now we have had to endure the failed marketing campaign that benefited the few while the majority suffered, not anymore, the King is gone. We didn’t have to hunt him down and pull him out of a spider hole, he did the honorable thing and resigned. That surprised me because I didn’t think his ego would allow that. Like so many in the City, those who work for the City don’t realize they are accountable to the residents and not each other. The King truly believed he was the one and only authority and the stakeholders in Main Street was merely his product to sell. Powell counted on taxes collected from City residents to fund friends and family, and took credit saying the increase in his budget was a creation of his.
Now that the past is the past we must look to the future and not relive history. The new Convention and Visitors Bureau director, who ever it may be, needs to understand that St. Charles is not a world-class destination. The new director has to understand that we might be historic but most people are not looking for history lessons when planning a trip.
Now history might be part of the trip but fun will probably be on the top of anyone’s list. Even the State data shows history is a distant fourth place. On the top is shopping and that is where the Merchants on Main must step to the plate.
Folks we need to look more dynamic and we have to offer much more to our visitors. We need to find some other storefronts and create a dynamic shopping experience. From North to South we need to create uniform shop hours. Hours that are conducive to our customers not we the storeowners.
I would call on both leadership groups to call the CVB and ask for a focus group study to find out what we can do to help. Let’s face it; we have complained enough to get rid of our biggest obstacle. Let’s take advantage and strike while the open minds are still open. If we as a united front approach the CVB and actually try to find what our assets and shortcomings are we will be going in the right direction. We need to find out what local residents would like from their Main Street because we are their Main Street. All the money that is invested in our streets and sidewalks comes from them. So shouldn’t we at least find out what they think and what they would like to see. This is the time for us to move Main Street to the next level to quote one of the Kings favorite sayings. Of course he has this level so low it wouldn’t take much to raise the bar.
