As one who lives outside Asheville, I can tell you most people I know avoid downtown during this time. The unpleasantness factor is wratched up about seven notches above normal, which usually, on a normal day, hovering around fourteen wratches, resulting in a total of about twenty one wratches. Most humans’ tolerence for wratches is about sixteen-seventeen wratches. You city types got your callus’ all built up so many of you can withstand twenty one wratches and even convince yourselves you enjoy it. It’s bad for your glands though.
If Bele Chere loses money again this year, I wonder if we can start a petition to just end it. Could we get any council members on our side?
While I wouldn’t be surprised if the festival itself loses money—it’s a promotional event for the city, a big ad, when you get right down to it—the cash injection for many of the downtown merchants is so big that I’d be surprised if there was much support. Sure, lots of places close down for the fest, but just as many (if not more) stay open and rake in money all weekend long. I think it’d be a tough sell.
If Bele Chere loses money again this year, I wonder if we can start a petition to just end it. Could we get any council members on our side?
While I wouldn’t be surprised if the festival itself loses money—it’s a promotional event for the city, a big ad, when you get right down to it—the cash injection for many of the downtown merchants is so big that I’d be surprised if there was much support. Sure, lots of places close down for the fest, but just as many (if not more) stay open and rake in money all weekend long. I think it’d be a tough sell.
I doubt our Ad Reps would be too excited about it. But, we’re in pretty deep with Bele Chere on a number of levels, and we certainly have a horse in the race. Dare you face us?
While I wouldn’t be surprised if the festival itself loses money—it’s a promotional event for the city, a big ad, when you get right down to it—the cash injection for many of the downtown merchants is so big that I’d be surprised if there was much support. Sure, lots of places close down for the fest, but just as many (if not more) stay open and rake in money all weekend long. I think it’d be a tough sell.
What businesses are ‘raking it in’,out of curiosity. Every business owner I know HATES Belle cher, but i guess they are all small fish.
Who, bsedies, the MX actually benefits from belle cher?
Certainly no taxpayers, since the city LOSES money.
What businesses are ‘raking it in’,out of curiosity. Every business owner I know HATES Belle cher, but i guess they are all small fish.
Who, bsedies, the MX actually benefits from belle cher?
Certainly no taxpayers, since the city LOSES money.
All of the local restaurants at the Taste of Asheville make oodles, I’d guess, and many local artists and crafters with booths make plenty of cash. The late-night restaurants and bars tend to do well, as do many of the shops that sell drinks and water during the day. The cafes tend to do alright as well, from what I’ve heard, as do places that normally cater to tourists.
But, some of the speciality shops have a very hard time, as do those shops who rely on regular visits from locals. Others who are hit hard are those that are just outside of the festival limits. Some places just don’t feel like dealing with the hassle, even if they could make a few bucks, and close for the weekend. It depends, I guess.
I bet the bars do just fine,
One year we stayed at Beirgarden drinking till at least 4:oo.
I hope Bele chere stays. It certainly is a huge ad for A-vegas, whether you like that or not, it helps introduce new folks to the city, and makes it unique. It seems lots of old friends come around during that weekend
festivals most likely have an double purpose.
it brings in traffic from allover, artist vcan sell, music people get noticed and such
BUT the people who make the festival working out, they makme the most money with food and drink vendors…
i would think that it would be better jus having arts, craft and music on the street but no food and drink, that would bring the people if they are hungry in the restaurants and they do not loos money and will be happy also…
we have made an intire festival in berlin this way, because the gastronomic people where unhappy and lost a lot of money. so we did not give ANY food or drink boothes away. that business stayed in town by the restaurants and coffee places, what is fine…
if festivals take money to go at, people will spend the money at the “door” and save at the sales. and because boothes prices are pretty high, they alredy make enought money out of this festivals i would say…
since i never have seen this fesival, i can not say something about the quality of the vendors stuff, but i hope i will not find all this commercial stuff…
but aT THE END::: MOST FESTIVALS; DOES NOT MATTER FOR WHAT GOOD REASON THEY STARTET::: somewhen people just figured that they can make lots of money if they just hook up loooooooooots of boothes and take high and higher $ for the spaces… thats called...business...smile
