3 minute read
A collective voice
SANDPOINT SHOPPING DISTRICT WORKS TO BE THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN
by Patty Hutchens
It’s the heart of a community. It is where tourists flock and locals gather. The downtown corridor provides the first impression for many who visit our town, and several local business owners have done much to make it thrive over the years.
Recently, Sandpoint and the surrounding area have experienced a great deal of growth. With that growth came the formation of the Downtown Sandpoint Shopping District, with a mission to promote the downtown experience to both locals and visitors.
The Sandpoint Shopping District organization includes 30 business owners who meet regularly to discuss events and issues that affect their businesses. Together, they have a collective voice and can maximize their advertising dollars while providing a wonderful experience for locals and tourists.
“In the past, we had various businesses participate in different promotions and events, which led to a lot of extra legwork,” said Deanna Harris, owner of Sharon’s Hallmark on First Avenue. In September of 2021, the group converted to an annual membership to cover events they hold: Apple Fest in October, Hometown Holidays events in November and December, an annual spring event, and Crazy Days in late July.
“Membership also helps cover ads in several publications including Schweitzer Magazine,” said Harris of the district’s marketing efforts, which also include the recent hiring of a social media coordinator, Alyssa DuVall, who is responsible for posting content regularly.
DuVall believes the Sandpoint Shopping District has set itself apart from the big box stores and what she calls the “generic cities” of this era.
another photo?
PREVIOUS PAGE: THE SUMMER STREETSCAPE OF DOWNTOWN SANDPOINT IS VIBRANT AND EXCITING. SSD PHOTO. ABOVE: WINTER IN DOWNTOWN SANDPOINT IS MAGICAL. PHOTO BY WOODS WHEATCROFT.
“We continue to form a unique and varied shopping and dining experience,” said DuVall.
“The Sandpoint Shopping District is a destination; we invest in our community because we know that we only succeed by working together.”
Over the last year, the group has been delighted to welcome back many visitors from Canada, many of whom had not been able to visit during the pandemic. And with additional restaurants opening up and more consistent hours offered, many locals are starting to make their way back to downtown Sandpoint as well.
The downtown area is full of unique stores and dining establishments, and offers entertainment that appeals to all demographics. But the stores are not all that is unique; so is the relationship among the store owners. DuVall said that all businesses enjoy the opportunity to refer their customers to one another to ensure the perfect experience for everyone.
“As our community grows, we want all of our downtown businesses to know we need all of us to make this a wonderful place to live and shop,” said DuVall. “We are proud that money coming into our district provides meaningful employment for our locals.”
But with growth also comes growing pains. Harris stated that some of the more prominent issues faced are public restrooms, bicycles, and skateboards on sidewalks. Another major issue is parking.
“Since summers are so busy, a lot of times we don’t see much of our local shoppers during that time unless they are bringing out-of-town guests downtown,” said Harris. “We hear that it is too hard to find a parking space, or that it is so hectic. A lot of our (local) shoppers don’t come back downtown until after Labor Day. This makes parking a definite big picture item that needs to be addressed.”
With the addition of more residential housing in and near downtown, Harris believes that will bring more people to the downtown core. She cites a need for a convenience store that would sell various sundries as well as a place with limited grocery options as well as grab-and-go meals.
In the meantime, DuVall’s role involves posting three to five times each week on Facebook and Instagram, enticing locals and visitors to come and enjoy the downtown corridor.
“We create many of our events for our locals,” said DuVall. “We think it’s important to give the hometown experience to those living in and around Sandpoint.” At the same time, however, she realizes the money that comes into our community from tourism provides the Sandpoint Shopping District the opportunity to build community, host local events, and create jobs for those who live and work here.
“We are fortunate to be creating this business community with all of our neighbors,” said DuVall.
Learn more at www.downtownsandpoint.com
