STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - Several members of the Tavern Association and the Partnership met Tuesday for their first meeting following State Patty's Day. They say they're glad the numbers show a downward trend and hope that's a positive sign they won't have to close down again.
Three days after State Patty's Day, Duke Gastiger says business is back to normal. He owns the All-American Rathskeller and Spats in downtown State College. The Rathskeller was closed for business Saturday, but Spats did remain open for food service.
"We did about half of what we would do on a normal Saturday night," Gastiger said.
Gastiger is one of several business owners part of a coalition discussing efforts to get rid of any future State Patty's Days.
"We're already, with the coalition, working for next year," he said. "Creating more events that will be family and more adult-oriented. I think that will help."
Borough Manager Tom Fountaine agrees. He says the borough's even constructing a website to take in community feedback.
"While the weekend wasn't incident-free, reports from neighborhoods, reports from landlords, property owners, business community, overall has been very good," he said.
Fountaine says parking tickets decreased by 50% this year, as well as parking revenue. So will that change keep downtown businesses from receiving another subsidy next year?
"It's hard to say," Fountaine said. "At this point, I think that's something the Partnership will have to assess."
Gastiger says either way, he hopes this year's changes have changed the minds of State Patty's Day participants.
"It's the community that's going to solve the problem, not a single group," he said.
Fountaine says final incident numbers as well as the community feedback website will be released in the coming weeks.
Three days after State Patty's Day, Duke Gastiger says business is back to normal. He owns the All-American Rathskeller and Spats in downtown State College. The Rathskeller was closed for business Saturday, but Spats did remain open for food service.
"We did about half of what we would do on a normal Saturday night," Gastiger said.
Gastiger is one of several business owners part of a coalition discussing efforts to get rid of any future State Patty's Days.
"We're already, with the coalition, working for next year," he said. "Creating more events that will be family and more adult-oriented. I think that will help."
Borough Manager Tom Fountaine agrees. He says the borough's even constructing a website to take in community feedback.
"While the weekend wasn't incident-free, reports from neighborhoods, reports from landlords, property owners, business community, overall has been very good," he said.
Fountaine says parking tickets decreased by 50% this year, as well as parking revenue. So will that change keep downtown businesses from receiving another subsidy next year?
"It's hard to say," Fountaine said. "At this point, I think that's something the Partnership will have to assess."
Gastiger says either way, he hopes this year's changes have changed the minds of State Patty's Day participants.
"It's the community that's going to solve the problem, not a single group," he said.
Fountaine says final incident numbers as well as the community feedback website will be released in the coming weeks.
