Mars business owners react to proposal suggesting pay for street closures, moving events
MARS — A recent proposal to pay downtown Mars businesses for street closures and move some regular events elsewhere would “destroy the town,” according to at least one business owner along Grand Avenue.
Business owners in downtown Mars shared their reactions this week to the “Business Impact Fund” proposal, which was presented at the borough’s Monday, Feb. 19 meeting by councilman Brad Price.
Price’s proposal — as presented at the meeting — would establish a fund containing between $10,000 and $50,000 with the intention to compensate downtown businesses for losses sustained whenever they are forced to close for events, such as Mars Applefest, Mars New Year and car shows.
The proposal also suggests council members who support street closures should contribute $100 per closure to the fund and asks that most future outdoor events be moved to Marburger Field.
“I feel, if it passed, it would destroy the town,” said John Podolak, owner of After Hours Tattoo Studio. “To take away events that help keep the businesses alive … I feel the town will collapse.”
Another business owner, Rebecca Ross, who runs Bebe Kakes on Hook Street, said she feels events, such as Applefest and Mars New Year are a boon to their businesses, not a hindrance.
“We probably do eight times the business on those days,” Ross said. “We have lines out the door and people get to know our business when they wouldn't normally be down here.”
Price, the council member who proposed the fund, said that he brought it to the attention of the rest of the council to start a discussion about local events, and that his focus wasn’t strictly on getting the fund passed right away.
“Some businesses thrive in these events, and there are other ones that are somewhat harmed,” Price said. “Their business slows down, or their customers can't get to their storefront … that sort of thing. I think we have to look at both sides of this and try to strike the proper balance, whatever that is.”
Price mentioned chiropractor’s offices, for example, would not benefit from having a local event pass by their door. Events instead would create parking challenges for such businesses.
Price, who also owns the Mars Brew House coffee shop on Pittsburgh Street, says there were no personal motivations behind the proposal.
“I'm not interested for me personally. I probably would never submit a claim of any kind,” Price said. “I didn’t intend to upset anybody with my proposal. It was just for discussion.”
Ross, of Bebe Kakes, said she finds business owners look forward to the events in downtown Mars.
“It would be terrible. It would affect all of our businesses a lot,” Ross said. “Events are something all of us look forward to together.”
Danielle Doebereiner, owner of the Nosh & Curd cafe, said since her business opened in Mars about a year and a half ago, she’s seen only a positive effect from local events on her business.
“I feel like being a new business in the area, we have actually noticed only benefits from the events, as they bring a lot of people in who have never been to or seen our store before,” Doebereiner said. “It also allows us to reach more people to bring them in for business later.”
Natasha Smith, who runs the Social Club Grooming Company, pondered how moving the events to Marburger Field would impact a different group of people.
“It’s right in the middle of a residential neighborhood,” said Natasha Smith, who runs the Social Club Grooming Company. “I think moving events there would just cause more disruption to local residents when we can have it in a commercialized area of town.”
Podolak said he was especially surprised to learn about the proposal, as he was present at the same borough council meeting on Monday where Price proposed his business impact fund. Podolak, who attended to ask for an event, said he left before Price brought up his proposal, which occurred late in the meeting.
“We asked for the permission for the Rumble (car show), then we left,” Podolak said. “We found out the next day.”
He said he took issue with the idea of using taxpayer money for the fund and that some of the funds would be raised by asking council members to contribute $100 each time they vote “yes” for event-related street closures.
“I know that I don’t need any taxpayer money to make up for a ‘loss’ on an event that we all make money at,” he said.
