OK, all you nattering nabobs of negativism. Admit it. The Jazz Festival was pretty cool. I was amazed by the amount of neighbors who came down there. I thought a lot of retailers underestimated the potential clients who might come in. Even without sales, there was the opportunity for exposure which a retailer desperately needs. One place in particular who was thrilled by the fest was the Maisson Suzanne Antiques. Nice people. There were a lot of missed opportunities but the restaurants hit a home run.
This brings up one of my thoughts for improvement of the downtown vibe. I was a little puzzled when I went to Vittorio's last night and discovered that, although hundreds of people were drinking 1/4 block away, I could not sit at their tables in front of the restaurant to enjoy a fabulous evening and a glass of wine. When I inquired, I was told that the Village has not enacted an ordinance to allow some deuces to be set up on the sidewalk to serve guests.
I point the Village, and my good friend, Mr. Ladesic, to Blair Kamin's discussions about what makes a downtown vibrant. Interesting sites, interesting merchants, and people. Crowded sidewalks. We need to create noise, laughter, music, and people on the sidewalks to encourage more retail sales. Our sidewalks are big enough to enact an ordinance to encourage garden seating in front of the restaurants.
Let's think about how we can make Glen Ellyn's streets a little more noisy. In a good way. And use that Main Street corridor during Saturday nights. It's a natural theater.
Ronald M. Kas
