ESCONDIDO: First sidewalk sale draws light traffic
City working to find ways to attract downtown business
By MANNY LOPEZ - For the North County Times | ∞
Artist Brian Gibson of the Escondido Arts Partnership paints a sign Saturday during the city's sidewalk sale, an effort to boost business downtown. (Photo by Waldo Nilo - Staff Photographer) 
Mary Victoria Arathoon of Victoria's Travels sells jewelry Saturday during the Escondido's sidewalk sale. (Photo by Waldo Nilo - Staff Photographer) ESCONDIDO ---- Escondido's Downtown Business Association kicked off its first "sidewalk sale" Saturday afternoon on Grand Avenue.
Promoted as the biggest sidewalk sale in North County, organizers had expected nearly 100 business to participate in the event, which ran from noon to 5 p.m.
But by 2 p.m., fewer than 20 stores had placed merchandise outside their storefronts.
Some businesses remained closed as usual for the weekend. Others were empty, victims of the hard economic hit downtown Escondido has been facing in recent months.
In an effort resuscitate business and breathe new life into the area, the Downtown Business Association has been coming up with creative ways to attract more customers.
Javad and Jennifer Fardaei of Home Accents, Etc., said they expected the turnout for the event to be good.
Jennifer Fardaei said they have participated in other such events since opening their home furnishings and accessories store at 231 East Grand Ave. in November.
"Whenever there are events downtown, we usually get a good crowd," she said.
Javad Fardaei said the accessories on display Saturday were acquired at a considerable discount, and the savings were being passed down to customers as a way of introducing people to the store.
On sale in front of the Mingei International Museum were trinkets from around the world that museum manager Carole Ravago said were representative of the merchandise sold at the museums store.
Free admission to the museum was offered with every sale. Ravago said she was pleased with the turnout.
"We are proud to be participating in the sidewalk sale this year," she said. "We think it's exciting, it's good for business and it's a good way to get people exposed to our museum."
The Mingei, at 155 Grand Ave., is in the former location of a J.C. Penney store that stood vacant for nearly 17 years until the museum bought it in 2002, Ravago said.
Lisa Gulliver, owner of Architectural Relics, sells architectural salvage, antiques and vintage gifts from a restored, 120-year-old building on Grand Avenue.
"It's been going good, we've been very busy," she said. "Today's event coincided with our anniversary sale."
She attributed the high volume of traffic in her shop to a mix of people from both events.
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Local wrote on Aug 17, 2008 4:11 AM:Was the sidewalk sale advertized anywhere? I missed it. The DBA might consider an advertizing department. I saw a mention on a blog but no mention in the NCT. Someone dropped the ball. Events NEED TO BE ADVERTIZED! DUH!
Danny P wrote on Aug 17, 2008 4:58 AM:FOOD DISTRIBUTION!
Distribution Center for the North county Food Bank will be open every Saturday from 6pm-8pm.
Pioneer Elementary School
corner of Lincoln Ave. and Ash st.
Escondido,CA. 92025
This center will be available weekly for all the people that need support with food.
if you know somebody that need this help, please send them to me at the park
we also need a lot of volunteers and will take any donations for the food bank!
volunteers show up at 5:00 pm.
plz help us to help others!
call me
if u wish to help us out :D
Local wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:12 AM:Great idea but had no idea it was happening. Why wouldn't every downtown merchant participate? Is business so good they didn't need to or is it possible that they also did not know about it? Well I hope they try it again but maybe advertise it a little better. I love downtown and would definately have been there if I had known.
well versus oh well wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:41 AM:sounds like those that participated did well and those that didn't participate...........oh well.
well versus oh well wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:45 AM:sounds like those that participated did well and those that didn't.....oh well.
ECONOMY wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:40 AM:It's the economy, stupid" James Carville circa 1992
Finger Pointing wrote on Aug 17, 2008 12:04 PM:Maybe it's the CEO of the DBA that lacks brain cells, don't you think it's about time for some REAL change.
NYHICA wrote on Aug 17, 2008 2:12 PM:I would've been there if you / someone had advertised the event. Poor planning and again the merchants suffer.
Escondodo wrote on Aug 17, 2008 3:47 PM:For something billed as the "largest" anything, the event sure seemed to be a dud. I drove along Grand Avenue and saw a few stores with items on the sidewalk, but didn't think much of it. There didn't seem to be any signage whatsoever. How was one supposed to know the "largest" sidewalk sale was going on without any promotion whatsoever? I think the DBA and the merchants need to do a better job of: A. Promotion; and B). Participating.
Need More wrote on Aug 19, 2008 1:19 AM:Half of the storefronts in downtown are empty. Seriously...... why bother having a sidewalk sale with so few stores to offer stuff for a sidewalk sale. Time for new blood on the city council before we lose the rest of the downtown businesses. I don't understand why a republican run council from the pro-business party would let downtown become so bad. Who keeps voting for these people? Wake up Escondido!
To Need More wrote on Aug 20, 2008 3:58 AM:You must be a newby. Do some research. You won't have to go back very far. Just when the downtown was experiencing a renewal, certain entities decided that more $ was to be made at the ERTC. Pull the PMC out of the downtown and transfer everything connected to the ERTC. It is a loss in potential for the ERTC and the downtown. Ergo, it is a lose, lose.
Local wrote on Aug 20, 2008 12:27 PM:To: To Need More
I must be a newby as well. Please explain what ERTC and PMC are.
Thanks.
To Local wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:21 AM:With your level of knowlege of local history/politics, why do you comment here? ERTC is the long-planned for Escondido Research and Technology Center and PMC is our hospital, Palomar Medical Center which has a long and proud history. It was founded more than 50 years ago when city leaders had true vision and didn't fall victim to outside developer interests.
JP downtown wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:25 AM:we agree with the post of "Need More" Aug. 19 at 1:19. Just ignore the posts of "To Local" and "To Need More". We know who they are, they're a bunch of local, pathetic (disgruntled) hacks that invested in the land nearby Palomar Medical Center. Now they are sore because they're not going to make all the BIG $$$$$ they had originally planned with their "wise investments". What a shame, those three cry babies! We think the new hospital is outstanding, great location and a true state of the art facility, not like the outdated downtown hospital.
To To Local wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:27 AM:You know, you had the opportunity to enlighten me and perhaps win me over. Your derogatory remark about my level of knowledge show your true ugly colors. My comments were based on a true desire to understand--sorry I didn't get the acronyms.
Little Andy wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:38 AM:PPH no more, no more TaxPayer $$$.
To JP wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:10 PM:Sorry to disappoint you but I own no land downtown whatsoever. Just ask afew of the downtown merchants about how excited they are to see the hospital move. I hear the ERTC still has nothing but a big whole. It ain't over yet.
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