Barrie’s Promenade Days is proving fruitful for local businesses.
Stores and restaurants have taken over Dunlop Street for the 39th annual Promenade Days, creating a unique atmosphere and with it, interest in the downtown core. Business owners hope the momentum will continue after the four day festival wraps up.
"It really kicks off summer and says, ‘hey there's great shops down here, and great businesses down here,’” says Craig Stevens, managing director of the Downtown Barrie Business Improvement Association.
Promenade Days attracts more than 50,000 people every year, many of them tourists.
"We see tons of new faces, tons of tourist, we've had people from Ohio, upstate New York, we're getting all kinds, Toronto people going to and from the cottage,” says Randy Aylwin, owner of Grilled Cheese Social Eatery. “It's good for Barrie, this is a good thing."
The Watkins family drove up from Vaughan just to take in the sights.
"For us as parents of a little one, who just wants to wonder around, it's perfect because she can walk and there's no cars,” says Rekha Watkins.
Many businesses consider this the most important festival of the year.
"I’ve been here for three Promenades and every one of them has been my best day of that year," says Aylwin.
Another store manager says Promenade Days offers added exposure, even to local residents.
"A lot of people who didn't even know we existed, which being down here since 91 it's weird that people haven't seen us before, but now they get a chance to see some of the stuff we have,” says Jay Coulson of Tropical North.
Promenade Days ends on Sunday with several performances through the downtown. For a full list, you can check out the schedule here.
Stores and restaurants have taken over Dunlop Street for the 39th annual Promenade Days, creating a unique atmosphere and with it, interest in the downtown core. Business owners hope the momentum will continue after the four day festival wraps up.
"It really kicks off summer and says, ‘hey there's great shops down here, and great businesses down here,’” says Craig Stevens, managing director of the Downtown Barrie Business Improvement Association.
Promenade Days attracts more than 50,000 people every year, many of them tourists.
"We see tons of new faces, tons of tourist, we've had people from Ohio, upstate New York, we're getting all kinds, Toronto people going to and from the cottage,” says Randy Aylwin, owner of Grilled Cheese Social Eatery. “It's good for Barrie, this is a good thing."
The Watkins family drove up from Vaughan just to take in the sights.
"For us as parents of a little one, who just wants to wonder around, it's perfect because she can walk and there's no cars,” says Rekha Watkins.
Many businesses consider this the most important festival of the year.
"I’ve been here for three Promenades and every one of them has been my best day of that year," says Aylwin.
Another store manager says Promenade Days offers added exposure, even to local residents.
"A lot of people who didn't even know we existed, which being down here since 91 it's weird that people haven't seen us before, but now they get a chance to see some of the stuff we have,” says Jay Coulson of Tropical North.
Promenade Days ends on Sunday with several performances through the downtown. For a full list, you can check out the schedule here.
