Businesses bummed by missing events, but many understand

The carnage of cancellations this week amid the recent spike of COVID-19 cases has left unmistakable holes in Coeur d’Alene’s summer.

On Thursday, the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce announced the pandemic’s troubling trend led them to cancel all remaining Fourth of July festivities, including the parade and City Park vendors; this after already canceling its fireworks display. Hours later, the city of Coeur d’Alene announced the Kiddies Parade was canceled, as well.

On Friday, the Downtown Association announced Car d’Lane — which had already been postponed from its June date to mid-July — was officially canceled, as was the downtown Brewfest. These events represent some of the largest attractions and drivers of foot traffic on Coeur d’Alene’s calendar.

But businesses in the downtown district have said the cancellations were tough decisions they all understood.

“Obviously, with all this craziness going on, we’re just doing our part to be responsible,” said Tom Kane, general manager at Sweet Lou’s on Front Street. “Being a resort town, those events during the summer months are important to us. But canceling them makes sense.”

Kane spoke to The Press during the hustle and bustle of the dinner hour, as locals were coming off work for the weekend. Despite limited occupancy and spaced-out tables — all part of the protocols restaurants are following after Gov. Brad Little implemented his plan to re-open Idaho businesses — the Front Street hot spot still hummed with activity.

“It’s a bummer, for sure,” Kane lamented, “but we understand it. We want everybody to be healthy and safe, and that’s what our local organizations want, too.”

“I understand the decision,” Maren Scoggins, owner of Abi’s Ice Cream on the corner of Fourth and Lakeside, echoed in agreement. “I think the cases coming into the hospitals because of COVID are growing at an exponential rate. Not having a new influx of people coming in and overwhelming our hospitals is what’s most important right now. People are getting sick right now, and we all need to show the community our support.”

Both Scoggins and Kane — as well as virtually every other business interviewed for this story — agreed that keeping the public safe should be the priority. But they also admitted the dent in revenue will likely sting.

“It will hurt,” Scoggins said, “but as a business owner, this is part of owning a business. We’re just going to do what we can to help our local businesses here. It’s critical right now that we help one another.”

Scoggins expanded on that answer by suggesting shoppers can help small businesses downtown through continuing to shop locally, through purchasing gift cards and through the simple act of word of mouth.

“For us,” she explained, “and for me as a business owner, when someone comes into the shop, and we (serve them), we chat with them. We find out what they’re doing and what they’re shopping for or where they’re looking to go to dinner. We try to steer them toward other local businesses in the community that can help them.”

Some of those techniques — gift cards, for example — have been recommended by local organizations since the pandemic closed businesses to all but drive-thru, takeout and curbside service back in March.

Emily Boyd, events coordinator for the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association, said the events originally scheduled in June but since canceled — such as Car d’Lane — have removed predictable crowds, but stores have kept customers safe and leave her optimistic.

“From what we have seen in June,” Boyd said, “foot traffic and revenues have been strong. Downtown businesses have practices in place, which include social distancing, hand sanitizer, spaced tables, and many are wearing masks. The Downtown Association is keeping all the businesses stocked with sanitizer and masks, plus sanitizing high-touch areas on the street daily.”

But some businesses say, while they’ll do all they can to help their community safe and their fellow shops busy, the cancellations will leave a severe mark on their bottom lines, with even more potential cancellations on the horizon.

“I know the Street Fair has about 60,000 people that come every year,” said Savannah Breckenridge, manager of Kandy’s Boutique on Sherman Avenue. “We rely heavily on that. I think if everybody comes to that — if that isn’t (canceled) — we’ll be OK.”

The Street Fair, which traditionally goes hand-in-hand with Art On The Green between the last days of July and the first days of August, is still tentatively scheduled to move forward. Boyd, whose Downtown Association is responsible for the event, said the organization is keeping a watchful eye on the COVID-19 numbers, hoping the climbing number of cases start trending down — not only for the Street Fair, but for shopping throughout the summer months.

“If case numbers remain the same or lower,” Boyd said, “I expect a decent shopping crowd this summer. It’s apparent the community and surrounding areas are eager to get out.”

It’s keeping the number of cases down, said Breckenridge and Kane and Scoggins and Boyd alike, that is most important.

“I totally understand why they canceled (the events),” Breckenridge said. “For us to keep going, we need to have a healthy community.”