Business Improving in Downtown Northfield

The recent stretch of sunny weather isn't the only thing brightening the mood of downtown Northfield business people.

Consumers are spending more this year than in recent memory, said city business leaders.

And even with the downtown economy in the midst of what could be called the typical summertime lull—when schools and colleges are out and residents leave town on vacation—optimism among merchants continues to grow.

"This summer and last summer are better than 2008 and 2009," said Ross Currier, executive director of the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation. "Traffic picked up last summer, and spending seems to be a little better this summer."

Among those firms seeing an uptick in spending is on Water Street.

"I can tell you that this summer business has been better than we expected," said Joey Robison, marketing and member services manager at Just Food and a board member of NDDC. "Customer counts are about the same as last year."

Part of the nonprofit NDDC's mission is to promote and market downtown business.

One business seeing jumps both in income and number of customers is the , on Division Street. Fresh off a $1.1 million, 21-month renovation that wrapped up in April, the Archer House has seen double-digit increases in recent months.

"Actually, our business was up in June (by) 40 percent year-over-year," said Todd Byhre, general manager of the Archer House. "And in July, we are expecting a 10-percent increase."

Not only are more people staying at the Archer House, but they are booking longer trips, as well, said Byhre. On average, guests are staying a half-day longer, to 1-3/4 nights per stay.

And, the hotel was full nearly every weekend until what Byhre called "the Dog Days of July."

"There are 15 or 16 days in the beginning of July when business just falls off," he said. 

More activities mean more business

Byhre and Currier credit Northfield's ever-growing arts community, live music schedule and special events for the recent jump in business activity.

"The has been a good thing for downtown," said Currier. "The brings a bigger market to town. The is also good at getting people downtown. I'm looking forward to the Low Brow High Octane event [in September]. I think that's going to be big this year."

Byhre said the —an open-air art and food market held each Saturday until October along the Cannon River—has become popular among overnight visitors from the Twin Cities.

"The market fair is a real draw for us on Friday nights," he said. "Northfield is slowing becoming known in the Twin Cities for something other than Jesse James. It's becoming known as an alternative to Stillwater and Red Wing.”

Byhre also sees the development of the Cannon River waterfront south of the Ames Mill dam as a drawing card for downtown business. 

Summer business dropoff

Does business activity in Northfield fall during the summer?

“Summer is usually slower,” said Robison of Just Food. “That is typically the way our year goes.”

Byhre said the lull in summer hotel business can be attributed to fewer business travelers and fewer families making college visits around the Fourth of July holiday.

Because of scheduling changes at and colleges, Currier said, Northfield businesses had a better June this year than in years past.

“June was really good,” he said. “St. Olaf separated their reunion weekend from their commencement weekend and celebrated the reunion in town for the first time. Between the commencements and reunions at St. Olaf and Carleton, we had four good weekends in a row.”

Byhre said he doesn’t consider this year’s “Dog Days” being a bad thing, though. It’s a time for him and his staff to take a breather after finishing renovations.

“It just happens to be the only slow time on our calendar for a while,” he said. 

Expectations?

Byhre, Currier and Robison said they anticipate downtown Northfield’s economy will continue to improve for the rest of year.

“As I said, 2010 and 2011 will be better than 2008 and 2009,” Currier said. “Vacancies were up and the length of time to fill vacant spaces was longer during the recession. However we are fortunate that our historic, scenic and authentic downtown continues to attract entrepreneurs. I’m sure we’re all hoping that the economy will continue to steadily, if slowly improve.”

A love letter to small businesses

Following the announcement of , Currier wrote this email to Northfield Patch:

"The reality of Main Street in a free-market economy is that there are some businesses that come and some businesses that go. Over the past, approximately, decade, we've seen 60-some businesses leave downtown Northfield. However, we've also seen 80-some businesses come to Northfield. We are fortunate that the private sector has invested in our historic buildings, that the public sector has invested in the infrastructure, and that entrepreneurs, and other people, are attracted to our historic, scenic and authentic downtown.

I'm not sure that the average person realizes that small business owners are truly heroic individuals. Often challenged by long hours and low returns, their pursuits demand energy, optimism, creativity and much, much determination. They are swimming against the currents of big boxes, the Internet, along with eddies that include regulations, reporting, increasing technical complexity, and the always unpredictable challenges of the weather. Add personal challenges to the professional challenges, and sometimes it seems miraculous that we have any small businesses at all."