By Jason Alley, Heritage Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK — Some businesses along Fort Street took advantage
of the first annual Cruisin’ Downriver to boost their sales by offering
specials, while others closed down for the day, allowing their employees to
party along with the crowd.
Even though the cruise was on Saturday, a local bar owner said
many classic cars were rolling down the streets Friday night.
Chesley Odom, owner of Chesley’s bar, said his place was on top
of things, offering an outside band both Friday and Saturday nights.
On Saturday, his parking lot was closed down, allowing people
to enjoy some food cooking on the outside grills and drinks on tap from the two
makeshift bars under a huge tent.
It made it easier that way, he said, for the crowds to hear the
tires squealing and the roaring of the engines.
"People were able to stand up by the parking lot and watch
all the cars go by," Odom said.
"And as it was, there were so many people by our block,
besides the ones in our parking lot, the cars driving up and down the strip
seemed to be doing a lot more peeling out in front of us than anywhere else
because here they had a huge audience."
Without giving away any dollar amounts, Odom said his bar did
"a lot more business during the cruise."
"It was a great weekend for us."
A nearby business took a different approach to the festivities
and closed down for the day, hosting a party for employees and clients.
Garrett Daniels, owner of Famous Photo, said shutting the doors
for the day was the only way to go.
"Our business is not much of a walk-in business," he
said.
So he had the staff purposely not schedule any appointments for
the day, so as not to cause much of a financial burden.
"It really would have been a huge hassle for anyone to
even try to get to us. It was better for everyone to just close down shop and
have a good time."
Mayor Craig Sochocki said things went well, and cheaper than
anticipated.
He said the city budgeted about $45,000 for the cruise, but he
"was sure not even half of that was spent."
"But it was all worth it. Just from people talking about
Lincoln Park and coming into the area, you couldn’t buy that kind of advertising
or excitement for what we paid."
The only problem, he said, was some small traffic backups that
were handled jointly by his department and the Michigan State Police.
"I personally have never seen the city so alive. I was so
proud and thrilled to be a part of it all," he said.
