Shuttle to connect sports fans with downtown Glendale
Shuttle to connect sports fans with downtown Glendale
Carrie Watters
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 23, 2007 08:06 AM
Just four miles - a straight shot down Glendale Avenue - separates Glendale’s historic downtown from the buzz surrounding the city’s sports and entertainment district.
Yet some downtown businesses owners say they have limited success luring game day visitors to their quaint shops and restaurants.
That could change with the Glendale Express, a shuttle that next month begins to transport people between the two areas and will introduce visitors to downtown gems such as The Bead Museum, a working chocolate factory and historic Catlin Court.
“It’s going to bridge the four-mile gap,” said Lorraine Pino, director of the Glendale Visitors Center.
The city is contracting with Glendale-based ValuTrans for a six-month pilot project to provide the free service six days a week.
The city will pay $70,000, which works out to $55.37 an hour and covers the cost of the bus, driver, mileage and maintenance, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Reichelt.
Downtown business owners have advocated for such a link since plans were first hatched to build Jobing.com Arena, which opened in 2003.
“I’m all for anyone bringing customers my way,” said Karen Landes, who owns The Apple Tree shop on Glendale Avenue and is president of the Glendale Downtown Development Corporation.
Landes said she has seen some increase in foot traffic since the sports and entertainment district was launched. But most of the visitors stumble onto downtown, than are drawn by a clear marketing strategy, she added.
Landes knows many visitors to the NHL arena and NFL dome are here with sports on their minds, not shopping.But, during larger events when visitors stay longer, she is hoping they will look for more, such as the furniture and folk art sold at her shop.
“Once you’ve seen Cabela’s and had a few beers, some people want something else to do,” Landes said.
Paul Seabrook, who opened the Glendale Gaslight Inn with his wife two years ago this week, also has high hopes for what he calls the shuttle’s “proactive outreach
“It will allow people to move around without cars to explore more areas,” Seabrook said.
The cozy Inn offers a café and live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays as well as 10 rooms with bed and breakfast amenities.
And over at the Bead Museum, board chairman Susan Flint said the museum expects the shuttle to drive traffic just as downtown festivals often encourage visitors to frequent the museum.
The museum which opened eight years ago and boasts more than 100,000 beads and beaded artifacts, highlights the artistry of American Indians and other cultures.
The numerous downtown events hosted by the city also earned praised from Jennifer Cerreta-Szewc at Cerreta Candy Company in downtown.
The candy shop, which has made sweets in Glendale for 16 years, will be among the shuttle stops.
“They can come in and see a real working chocolate factory,” Cerreta-Szewc said.
Visitors will be able to take a half hour tour, try their hand at candy making and purchase items in the retail store.
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