DOWNTOWN
business,” he said.
Quick to quote numbers to back up his assertions,
Wilkes said the economic spin-off of a theater is 10 times
the amount spent on tickets. So with $1.3 million in ticket
sales under the theater’s belt since October, the economic
impact has been $8-$10 million as each dollar spent is respent
18
for something else.
INCREASING ACTIVITY
Restaurants that stay open are known to benefit from the
added activity downtown, he said, because the restaurants in
Stuart have boosted annual sales by 35 percent since the historic
Lyric Theatre was restored.
Restaurants like the Yellow Tail Grille and Yianni’s Greek
Restaurant are stepping up to the plate, staying open and
doing well, Jon Ward said. “We’d like to see more places stay
open during major events.”
The downtown businesses are already coming together to
help themselves with more marketing and more ideas, staying
open when events draw people into the area, he said, but they
need to do even more of it.
The Downtown Business Association is increasing the number
of events it is sponsoring, said DBA President Bob Swisher.
“We’re working very closely with Main Street and the
Fort Pierce chamber committee to try and get visitors in,”
he said, citing the Classic Car Cruise-In held the last Friday
PHOTO BY GREGORY ENNS
As city manager since 1995, Dennis Beach, left, has overseen many of
the improvements downtown. Jon Ward, right, is the city’s
redevelopment director.
PHOTO BY GREGORY ENNS
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Decorative brick patterns enhance the look of the Fort Pierce City Marina. In the background is the thatched roof of the popular Original Tiki Bar.