October 8, 2007
Albany - - As one of the main draws downtown, Harvest Moon has a major impact on other businesses there. Other owners worry their business will suffer if it leaves, even as the city tries to boost downtown traffic.
Phyllis Powell and Joanne Bunn love walking downtown and supporting businesses.
"This used to be a happening place. You had all the stores, candy stores, clothes shops, shoe stores. Now you have to go to the mall," Bunn says.
But now, downtown Albany seems to be anything but happening. City leaders have tried to change that, creating the new First Fridays on the Flint each month.
"I'm definitely seeing new faces so that's good," says Envy store owner Julia Temple.
But not everyone is benefiting.
"We could be open a lot more if we had more people coming down here," says Arin Harper, a bartender at Downtown Live.
The night club is open on Monday nights. She says the club has profited from a business nearby.
"It's days when we've gotten Harvest Moon overflow. When its busy down there, people come down here and have a drink," Harper says.
Monday, Harvest Moon Owner Bo Henry told WALB he's looking at moving that business out of downtown.
Harper and Temple don't see it as a good thing.
"I hate that they're leaving because they bring a lot downtown," Temple says.
"We need more stuff downtown. Not stuff leaving, but more stuff coming," Harper adds.
It's needed to bring Downtown Albany back to the place Joanne Bunn once knew. Time will tell.
Some other downtown business owners we spoke with today say First Fridays aren't really helping them since their not located on the block of Broad Avenue where the events take place.
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