This tirade is directed at all the small business down town and especially on Main St East and West.

I HAVE HAD A BUISNESS HERE GOING ON FIVE YEARS SO I FEEL I’M SEMIQUALIFIED TO WRITE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT!

Blue Ridge is a wonderful little town, like it or not the industries here is Tourism.

All I hear from the business people here is oh how awful business is. And then when the town is loaded with tourist what do most of you do, close up shop and go home?????? And this includes the closing of most stores on Wednesday. Yes I know it’s a tradition close on Wednesday afternoon while the business you seek is wandering up and down main st. looking for something to do.

When we treat our customers like this they won’t come back. Why should they your all home watching TV or doing what ever you do. Look around at all the empty store fronts, this could be yours if we don’t change our ways.

The big question I get at my place is why are all the shops closed and thank you for being open.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

PS Happy New Year

After having lived here for 8 years, you'd think I would remember that the stores close on Wednesday afternoon. I can't tell you how many times I have gone to town on Wednesday and been disappointed that most stores were closed. I can remember when I was a kid that was a common practice, but this is the 21st century and the local business owners should recognize that they are losing business with this archaic practice. It would also be nice if there were some after dark activities downtown other than restaurants.

There have been many times in the past when we wished we could spend the day on the lake, and then go into town for ice cream or shopping. Closing at 5:00 during high season is very limiting. It is also common in other "resort towns" for shops to stay open until 9:00 on Friday and Saturday for after-dinner browsers. More restaurants means more diners cruising around in the evening. I would love to see some more evening options!

If nothing else, they could start doing this during the busy seasons and then take it from there.

Is there a downtown business association these comments and concerns can be directed to? What is the history behind businesses closing on Wednesday?
I know that sometimes change comes slow, especially to small towns that have been doing things one way for a long time. If some of the downtown business owners really listened to what their customers wanted, wouldn't they at least try something new, like staying open later in the evening during peak season?
Christmas eve morning my husband and I strolled downtown looking for shops to do last minute shopping and we passed many closed stores. I know that these "mom and pop" businesses usually have only the owner to run things and they probably wanted the day off but I would have thought that they would have been opened for at least the morning hours...
I have spent (and many of my guests throughout the years) many dollars downtown both shopping and eating. We will continue to do so and hope that the business owners realize that they are only in business because of their customers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I personally want to do what I can for Blue Ridge when it comes to contractors, dining and spending. I always make a point to dine and shop in downtown BR whenever I get up there (yes, I am a weekend warrior - not by choice though). Tourism is the anchor for downtown, no doubt and as a property owner I want BR to thrive and prosper. It's not just the natural area that I enjoy. I enjoy that small hometown feel. That being said, now having the wine/beer available for dining, I would love to see restaurants stay open later and not just on Friday and Saturday. I feel that if the stores stayed open later, the restaurants would also benefit from being open later. Since your already downtown shopping, why not just eat?

Someone asked me on Wed last week while I was there if I could recommend a restaurant downtown for that night and I name a few then said, "Wait, nothing is open". They were going to Longhorn. Not sure what the deal is on Wed, is but would agree that peek season (Oct through Dec) and the summer months (heck even September) businesses should stay open later. I know, that's coming from a guy who gets up there a couple of times a month, but there are plenty of tourists around that just go to Ellijay and shouldn't have to. Would think the the Chamber of Commerce or the mayor or the business would get together and advertise/market like crazy to bring in the business. The question is whether the business owners really want that extra business? I would think so.

I still see a lot of BS about people from FL and ATL ruining their town and can understand the resentment of change, but it is what it is and BR would be a ghost town without these folks. This IS the only viable option for BR long term unless some manufacturing plant comes to town and I just don't see that happening.

Bud

My mother grew up in a small town about the size of Blue Ridge. I can remember her telling me about Christmas Eve when she was a small girl. Everyone in town would go downtown for the last day of shopping. When they would return home, Santa had already visited.

I think there will be changes, beer & wine has opened some opportunities and also don't forget the new Mayor is a business owner.
We all just got to keep an eye on things and make sure we have changes for the good, this forum is a big help to let ideas air out and keep track on things.

I've been trying to understand for years why downtown is virtually empty at 5 PM on a Saturday in the middle of the summer tourist season. With some restaurants open after 5 it is improving, but !!!!!

The strange thing is that not all the stores close on Wednesday and some are closed other days during the week. It seems they don't need the business.. My wife has gone to town on a Thursday during the summer and been disapointed with the number of stores closed for the day.

The downtown business association needs to get some of the business people together to agree on staying open, otherwise it won't pay if only 1 or 2 do. Quite some time after Sweet Treats opened they were open until 9. They couldn't generate enough business to do it on their own.

You need to carry a calendar with you to be able to tell who is open when. That goes for some of the restaurants too. Sales tax down 8%. The restaurants may be the ticket to some additional revenue.

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Why would someone want to open a RETAIL business and then close the business during times that people (POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS) ususally shop and then complain that business is awful?