CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST -

TOUGH TIMES, MAKE THE GOOD TIMES WORTH THE WAIT - INVESTING IN GRAVENHURST IS GOOD BUSINESS

I'M PRETTY SURE THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF GRAVENHURST CITIZENS WHO ATTENDED FRIDAY NIGHT'S TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AND DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS SALE IN BRACEBRIDGE. BACK IN AUGUST, I SAW BIG GROUPS OF GRAVENHURST TEENAGERS, AND ADULTS, ENJOYING THE MIDNIGHT MADNESS SALE. THE DOWNTOWN IS JAMMED WITH SHOPPERS, SIGHTSEERS AND HALF-INTERESTED MUSIC LOVERS BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A COVER-BAND PLAYING ON THE END-OF-THE-ROAD STAGE. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS BUT I'M GOING TO STRETCH OUT ON THIS LIMB OF MINE, AND SUGGEST WE DIDN'T HAVE MANY BRACEBRIDGE RESIDENTS ATTEND OUR TREE LIGHTING EVENT HERE. THAT'S OKAY. THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY SAVING MONEY FOR THEIR OWN STREET SALE.

For those people, who might ridicule our event as being paltry, without bells and a single whistle…….and for having a Christmas tree that hasn't had lights on since that "festivus for the rest of us," (let's not get into the emergency vehicle flashing lights), it really is unfair to compare our BIA events, and the shopping options on our respective main drags. Of course Bracebridge has more stores with a greater diversity of merchandise. And they've got a lot of participation, and probably quite a bit more funding for their main street festivals. It makes sense. They've got more businesses to tap for BIA revenues. But the difference in Bracebridge, is that they have stuck with their event for decades, because I can remember going to Midnight Madness Sales back in the early 1980's, and maybe sooner than that. Before that I believe, the annual Cavalcade of Color was a big deal in the autumn season, and the road was closed for all the regalia; from beer garden to car show if memory serves. Since we have lived in Gravenhurst, now more than twenty years, the only comparison is the August Street Sale, and a few other times, through the year, when there are smaller BIA sponsored promotions. By statistics alone…..and I don't like relying on them entirely, Bracebridge has simply been working at it longer, and with greater intensity, such that now their sales are community fetes…..and whether you plan on buying or just enjoying the evening, it's a generally light-hearted, friendly venue, with a lot of participating stores.

Now just hang on a minute. It wasn't always this way. I went to a lot of these events, as reporter with the local press, and the turn-out was a fraction of what it is presently. One of the exciting promotions…… we always got a front-page photograph of, was the pajama-wearing sales' discounts, offered by some of the clothing stores. This definitely brought out the teenagers. Foolish, frivolous, but the retailer got credit for bringing out the mob…..and got a mention when we ran the photo above the fold.

There were many disgruntled BIA members then, especially at Christmas, who were less than impressed with the shop-at-home crowd. I used to be part of those days, as a main street retailer, and it was miserable. But by golly, despite the lean years, they never gave up on the idea, that they could take the evening hours, and make them profitable. Our boys and their mates attended their Friday night Christmas sale, and they were impressed by the large crowds. Even though the road wasn't closed, there were lots of activities, Santa making the rounds, a fire to warm the hands, music, lots of lit trees, at least I'm told, and some amazing live-window-displays, from the local dance academy students……and a goodly number of shops offering fairly meaty discounts. We always go to the annual August sale, and as it is my old hometown, I generally run into some of my childhood chums, and we have a nice visit, in an electric atmosphere. But folks, I don't come home and feel disadvantaged because I live, and have invested in Gravenhurst. It's not imperative to be a Bracebridge clone. We have a lot of great qualities here, and there's a lot of potential for the same kind of events, on a broader scale, in our business community.

What Gravenhurst must soon reckon with, is that in order to arrive at a more cohesive business network, we need to re-think the mandate of the BIA. For the next decade we are going to be in a re-building, re-investment period……just as Bracebridge has experienced many times, since I was a kid wandering that business corridor, from the mid 1960's onward. Our success depends on a town initiative, to remove the box of simply main street thinking. While it is the BIA mandate, after all, to look after improvements to the main street, it isn't the end-all and never has been. With a reduced main street commercial density, and one we might expect will decrease further in a tough economic winter, the town needs to encourage a Gravenhurst retail significance, where the whole business community is included in the reindeer games.

No here's a funny thing…..and it happens quite a bit. I met an old friend of mine at the grocery store yesterday. I was in public school in Bracebridge with the chap back in 1966. We went on to graduate high school in the same class, and we've been friends for life. He sees me shopping in Bracebridge, and I see him shopping in Gravenhurst. We laugh about it, each time we meet, declaring that "Just here spending some money Ted." "That's good Paul, we just came back from Bracebridge, where we spent some of ours." He and his wife are regulars in our town. As my wife and I are regulars in Bracebridge. But you know, I'm not sure if we really appreciate how many Bracebridge shoppers like our grocery and discount stores…….for the good service and excellent prices. Our LCBO outlet is one of the finest in the region, and yes, you can find many of our more northerly friends shopping there. The point is, if you look at the attraction Gravenhurst has……well, maybe we've been spending too much time pre-occupying about the main street, and its shortfalls, and not spending enough strategic planning, on how to benefit from all the business advantages we do have here……that spin-off to the main street as a matter of course. A lot of this isn't known or understood. It needs to be.

We have some excellent businesses here, that do attract folks from other towns. They don't just hit a few stores in the south end, or have a steak dinner at the wharf, and disappear. Many wind up on our main street, and we know this……especially from those who like music, because they find their way into our shop. We've had many visitors from other towns, arrive in our shop, having been directed here, by employees of those south end, and Wharf businesses, who network folks all over the place……because we're all in this together. We do the same every week, whether it is directing visitors to restaurants, gift, clothing and book shops…….the works. We'll refrain from saying which pizza place is best…….but we'll definitely say, we like them all.

When we held the annual Christmas tree lighting, the whole business community should have been invited to participate……which doesn't diminish the BIA doing their own business initiatives at the same time. But I sense the tension between the business areas of the community, and it seems at times, as if there is a chasm between the neighborhoods, too wide to span. Yet our power in retail, entertainment, and service, is huge, if we only could bring it all together…….because we can all see the great benefit of selling customers on Gravenhurst as a place to shop…….not just downtown……but all around town.

You know what we've got that Bracebridge doesn't have….other than me? The Opera House. The central square…..that is absolutely central, and that should by itself, inspire the BIA and the town, to start planning some all-inclusive fetes around here……for the kids, for families, for our visitors from south, north, east and west. You couldn't ask for a better venue, than is in the BIA bailiwick. And with the revamp to the Carnegie building, and the Chamber and BIA relationship moving in the right direction, all that's needed here, is for the business community to find the bridging…..to make the business future stronger than ever. After the Christmas season…..we should give our support to the Winter Carnival……because folks are trying here……and here's an event Bracebridge gave up on…….so "brand it hard," that Gravenhurst is the place where it was re-born…..the Muskoka Winter Carvinval…..Gravenhurst style.

This old roving reporter hears stuff out there. For those who think that Gravenhurst is the only town to face some disparity, there is news of some major Bracebridge store closures coming in the new year. A few are well known, in town, several others are new revelations. But it doesn't take but a short drive, to find some empty storefronts……but this time, strangely enough, it's the downtown that is doing the brisk trade. Talk about history repeating. The same can happen here. We just need to pull together all our strengths to do it!

We are persnickety investors, us Curries, a little frugal, slightly wily, and always looking for a good deal…..and we don't take risks. Did that once. Never again. And with our annual family business review, well, we're once again putting our money on Gravenhurst. That's how good a year it has been, running a business on the main street. Just in case you were interested. And we might even expand. See how the Christmas season goes. It's ours to win or lose. The only thing we're known for, more than being frugal, is being really crappy losers. So we do everything in our power to stay on the winning side. We think the best way to win, is to remain here, and tough it out…..and lately, that hasn't been any disadvantage whatsoever.

Shop in Gravenhurst. Shop all over Gravenhurst. You'll like what you find.

REMEMBER OUR FUNDRAISING CONCERT ON SATURDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 10TH, AT THE OPERA HOUSE

ANDREW AND ROBERT DRAG THEMSELVES BACK HOME EACH NIGHT NOW, AND GENERALLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SOCIALIZE, BEFORE HITTING THEIR RESPECTIVE BEDSTEADS.

THEY LOVE DOING THE TWICE ANNUAL FUNDRAISERS, BUT THEY ARE LABOR INTENSIVE ENTERPRISES, AND IT WILL BE CHRISTMAS EVE BEFORE THEY'VE CAUGHT UP THE SLEEP THEY'VE LOST WORKING ON, AND OF COURSE WORRYING ABOUT THE SHOW'S OUTCOME. THEY DO ALL THE PROMOTION WORK THEMSELVES, ACCEPT SOME WORDSMITHING FROM ME, (AND ORGANIZING FROM THEIR MOTHER), AND IT DOES TAKE A TOLL…..ALONG WITH RUNNING A BUSINESS, AND HOLDING DOWN SEVERAL OTHER JOBS AT THE SAME TIME. THEY'VE GOT TO CO-ORDINATE A LOT OF STUDENT PERFORMERS AND LOCAL GROUPS, AND YOU HAVE TO BE AN ENCHANTER TO PULL IT OFF…..BECAUSE A LOT OF CRAZY STUFF CAN HAPPEN, INCLUDING A SNOW STORM. HARD TO DO ONE OF THESE WITHOUT POWER.

SO IF YOU COME OUT TO THE "NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" SHOW, WHICH BEGINS AT 7 P.M., DON'T BE SURPRISED TO FIND THE SHOW PROMOTERS GLASSY-EYED, AND POSSIBLY NODDING OFF, WHEN THERE'S SOME DOWN-TIME DURING THE SHOW. FORTUNATELY WE'VE GOT SOME EAGER BEAVER VOLUNTEERS TO HELP BACK STAGE, AND THEY'RE MORE THAN CAPABLE OF KEEPING THE SHOW ON SCHEDULE. THEY JUST NUDGE THE LADS FROM THE HIATUS SLUMBER, AND THEY'RE GOOD FOR ANOTHER HALF-HOUR BEFORE EXHAUSTION SETS IN AGAIN.

WE ALL LOVE DOING THIS SHOW, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE WORK OF THE SALVATION ARMY, TO KEEP THE SHELVES OF THE FOOD BANK FULL OF PROVISIONS, TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE. IT IS A GREAT FEELING, ONCE THE SHOW IS OVER, TO BE ABLE TO HAUL BAGS OF GROCERIES TO THESE FOLKS, AND PRESENT A NICE CHEQUE TO THE THE CAPTAIN. AND THEN WE FALL INTO A LONG WINTER'S NAP.

DONATIONS ARE GLADLY ACCEPTED AT THE DOOR. NON PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AND CASH DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO OFFER A DONATION, AS OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU…..PLEASE ATTEND AS OUR GUESTS. WE SHOULD BE TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS……DON'T YOU AGREE?

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE SHOW, AND WISH TO OFFER A DONATION, YOU CAN VISIT THE BOYS AT THEIR MUSIC SHOP ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE OPERA HOUSE. BUSINESS AND CORPORATE DONATIONS WILL BE USED TO OFFSET THE RENTAL FEE FOR THE OPERA HOUSE.

GOD BLESS, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.