EDITORIAL: Downtown businesses must benefit from Street Fair

The 33rd annual Downtown Coeur d'Alene Street Fair has come and gone. It was a success, with vendors lining Sherman Avenue and offering crafts, goods and food. The fair drew thousands last weekend who also likely visited Art on the Green at the North Idaho College campus, and Taste of Coeur d'Alene at City Park. Together, those three events once again created a powerful attraction that is an economic benefit for the area.

But at least one downtown business isn't thrilled with it.

A letter from The Art Spirit Gallery sent to The Press outlined concerns with the fair. Here is what it said.

"As long-standing stakeholders in the vitality of downtown Coeur d’Alene, we at The Art Spirit Gallery feel compelled to speak plainly: the current configuration of the Street Fair is deeply harmful to the brick-and-mortar businesses who invest in this community year-round.

"This event — rife with imported merchandise, transient vendors, and activities unrelated to the artistic and cultural identity of our town — cheapens the character of downtown. It draws crowds that often overlook or entirely bypass the very businesses that give Coeur d’Alene its soul.

"For us, the weekend is not an opportunity — it’s an obstacle. Our staff spends the majority of these days clarifying to confused visitors that Art on the Green is not, in fact, the Street Fair. We redirect them to the actual arts festival while answering their repeated question: “Does this hurt your business?” The answer is unequivocally yes.

"The Street Fair diverts foot traffic, parking, and spending away from the galleries, boutiques, and restaurants that anchor this community. Instead, it funnels profits to out-of-town vendors who disappear after the weekend, leaving behind nothing but litter and lost revenue for the businesses that remain.

"We believe it is wrong — unfair and economically short-sighted — to sacrifice a profitable weekend for local establishments in favor of a temporary marketplace with no lasting benefit to Coeur d’Alene’s cultural or commercial core.

"Therefore, we have formally requested that the City Council not renew the event permit in its current form. Downtown deserves better than this. Our businesses — and this community — deserve thoughtful, sustainable events that enhance, not undermine, what we’ve worked so hard to build."

Those are strong words coming from one of downtown's most established businesses and can't be discounted.

While we support the street fair, believe most businesses like it and are confident it benefits Coeur d'Alene, we don't want to see it have a negative impact on the very businesses that are the heart and soul of downtown.

The Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association and the city will be working on a new contract for the street fair, as this was the last year of the current contract. The city, for its part, won't deny a permit based on one business calling on it to do so. But we may not be talking about only one business.

Councilor Christie Wood said she has heard similar complaints from others in the past.

"I think the council will want to have a thoughtful discussion with the DTB Association. They need to be creative in order to support the businesses in their association. I would like to see an additional street fair event scheduled for only those members that belong to the DTB," she wrote to The Press.

The association, led by Executive Director Emily Boyd, will be glad to be of the discussion on possible additions and changes to the fair, as it wants what is best for the businesses it represents. The association surveys businesses each year after the street fair, and the majority report improved sales.

"We work hard for the downtown community," Boyd said.

While we want to see another permit approved, we suggest both sides take a good look at possible changes that could enhance downtown businesses come time for the street fair. This event has gone on for more than three decades and has a strong following, but perhaps there are changes that could be made so shops like Art Spirit Gallery, which we love, look forward to it.