ESCONDIDO - The leader of the Downtown Business Association tried to clear up some concerns Wednesday morning about significant changes coming to the Cruisin' Grand classic car shows when a new season kicks off April 4.

Debra Rosen, the association's chief executive, told two dozen merchants gathered at the Escondido Library that the changes are designed to inject new life into the weekly car shows. The changes include adding a monthly concert, opening the shows to non-American cars, adding a vendor area and revamping the awards ceremony.

Rosen also talked about an internal squabble that prompted the association to take over signing up and recruiting car clubs, a duty that had been handled by downtown merchant Steve Waldron since he co-founded Cruisin' Grand in 2000. Rosen then tried to dispel rumors that Waldron's reduced role would lead to a rash of car clubs boycotting the shows.

"Today is about separating the rumors from the facts about the changes we're making to Cruisin' Grand," said Rosen. "I'm going to let you hear what's happening and let you decide for yourselves."

After the meeting, Rosen said she suspected that the boycott rumors had been started by Waldron, but she stressed that there was no proof and that she could not "say for sure" that he was responsible.

During a Wednesday afternoon interview at his T-shirt shop on Grand Avenue, Waldron said he had never told anyone to boycott Cruisin' Grand.

"I know this event is important to all of the businesses down here, so I would never tell anyone to boycott," said Waldron.

During the morning meeting, Rosen criticized the way Waldron had been handling recruitment and booking of car clubs for Cruisin' Grand. She said Waldron rejected offers from many clubs wanting to participate.

"Some people didn't get called back, and some who wanted to come couldn't come," said Rosen. "The Ferrari Club has been trying to get in for years."

Waldron declined to discuss his role as car club adviser, explaining that he had not been invited to Wednesday's meeting by Rosen and that he had been distracted recently by the death of his father.

Rosen said the changes were prompted by complaints from several merchants about declining attendance and revenue during last year's Cruisin' Grand shows, which take place every Friday night from early April to late September on Grand Avenue and adjacent streets.

"There's no intrigue left when the same cruisers are there every week," said Rosen, explaining that she has already booked several new car clubs for this year. "We're going to be bringing a whole new group of people to downtown, and we're going to take our event to a new level."

Rosen said she had also persuaded some car clubs to remain part of the event after they expressed concerns this winter about the changes and threatened to boycott.

"We laid out the details and they changed their mind," she said.

Waldron will still handle the awards show each week at Cruisin' Grand, but Rosen said that he will now choose one of the five winners rather than all the winners.

Rosen insisted that Waldron's diminished role did not amount to him being "forced out." Waldron declined to discuss that issue Wednesday, simply saying that he was frustrated that the association's executive board had made many decisions about Cruisin' Grand without including him.

During the morning meeting, Rosen also fielded several questions from merchants about the new concerts and new vendor area.

Corene Schuble, manager of Yardage Town on Grand Avenue, said she was concerned that concerts would draw people away from businesses during Cruisin' Grand.

Rosen said the concerts would increase foot traffic by giving people one more reason to attend. Rosen also said the concerts probably would begin in June.

The cost would be about $1,500 per concert, said Rosen, estimating that the association spends $5,000 to $10,000 on each Cruisin' Grand for portable toilets, insurance and other expenses.

Rosen also explained why the association had recently reversed its November decision to delay the start time of Cruisin' Grand from 5 to 6 p.m.

"We decided not to switch the time because it was too much of a change for a lot of businesses," said Rosen. "A lot of people don't stay very late, and we want to keep it at 5 to 9 p.m. because that's what people are used to."

- Contact staff writer David Garrick at (760) 740-5468 or dgarrick@nctimes.com.