A recent survey of about 30 businesses in Historic Downtown Branson is being used to define the current health of business in the Historic District. The results of the survey could be summed up in a paraphrase of a line written by Sir Walter Scott, “Breathes there a business with its soul so dead who never to itself hath said, “Ouch?”
The survey shows that of the approximately 30 businesses surveyed, 90% suffered a decrease in sales and 10% received an increase in sales between March 2006 and December 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005. The businesses suffering a decrease in sales during the period suffered an average of a 19% decrease while those having a gain averaged only five percent.
According to the survey, it doesn’t get any better in 2007. The same survey indicates that between March and May of 2007, 90% of the businesses surveyed suffered a decrease in sales and 10% received an increase in sales as compared to the same period in 2006. Even more astounding is the fact that the businesses suffering a decrease in sales during the period suffered an average of about 22% while those having a gain averaged 29%.
The survey goes on to point out that it might be more than an “ouch” for a lot of businesses in Branson’s Historic District. About 37% of the businesses surveyed indicated that their business was in danger of having to close their doors, 50% said that their net profit was less in 2006 than in 2005 and 41% indicated that that they had to borrow money or use savings to reopen in 2007.
Now a knee jerk reaction could be, “Why is anyone surprised, didn’t the city of Branson’s own consultants say that Branson’s existing retail establishments would take an 18 to 20% hit for the first two years that Branson Landing was open?” Yet, although the answer to that question is “Yes,” when the survey asked the question, “To what do you personally attribute your decrease?” only about 32% even mentioned the name of Branson Landing either directly or indirectly as being responsible for the decrease.
About 26% of the survey’s answers said that inadequate parking was the cause of the decrease. Now some might say, “Well Seagull, if you add the 26% parking to the 32% related to Branson Landing isn’t that about 58% related to Branson Landing?” Not really because to do that, one would have to assume that the downtowns parking problems are all the fault of Branson Landing and that simply is not the truth.
A public meeting between the Branson Board of Aldermen, Mayor Pressley, and downtown businesses held on Jun. 28 indicates there are a variety of reasons why there is not enough parking in the downtown area, not the least of which is the employees of businesses in the Historic Downtown area are parking in spaces intended for customers and a lot of the spaces are taken up by the construction of the convention center.
The sad fact of the matter is that there is going to be a continuing parking problem in downtown Branson even after the construction on the convention center is done and it will not be the fault of Branson Landing. The new parking garage has about 498 spaces and the parking lot off the south end of the convention center has about 462 spaces for a total of about 960 spaces.
Sounds good but what happens when 295 Hilton spaces are taken out of the new garage and about 110 or more of the spaces in the garage are rented out to downtown merchants on a monthly basis. How many spaces are left in the garage for the convention center and other public parking? Is it 93? What happens when there is a consumer show at the convention center that is drawing 3,000 visitors for the day? Don’t know for sure but it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to hold “Plumb Nellie Days” while it was going on.
May an Ole Seagull suggest that one of the most immediate problems that downtown has is not Branson Landing but inadequate parking. Could part of a quick and efficient solution, that could be implemented almost immediately, be the addition of adequate signage throughout the downtown area saying, “2 Hour Parking Strictly Enforced- Fine $200” and the enforcement of downtown parking regulations on Saturday and Sunday?
