okay, got to stop you right there. There was NEVER a brothel on Sutter Street. Emma's was roughly where Karen's Bakery is today and at the most she had a couple of girls down there. In those days Leidesdorff Street was like a whole different neighborhood, out of sight and out of mind, so it wasnt right in your face. Sutter Street had saloons, but they were definately the minority business and they were all well-run and low-key.
The loss of daytime family businesses has been a slow creep. The transformation you are talking about in your post, Steve, (banks, hardware, car dealerships leaving) happened when the town incorporated and the E. Bidwell Street commercial strip opened; that was over 50 years ago. The street came back slowly from that and many people worked hard to hold on and keep the street together. That was a struggle and nearly resulted in the loss of many historic buildings on the street. But the street came back and developed unique stores with antiques and artists and litle cafe and restaurants. The Sutter Club has been there forever, as has the bar in the Folsom Hotel, but even then it was pretty quiet at night and the street was definately family-friendly. Where Sam Horne's is used to be Peppermint Lane, an old fashioned wonderful candy store with barrels of candy and speciality items. It was great and very popular. Where Fat Rabbit is used to be the Folsom Telegraph, then a Sizzler's type steak house.
I think if you are seeing signs in windows like you are suggesting (I havent seen them yet), that you might not be so quick to dismiss these people and their concerns as wierd until you have really talked to them. People now are concerned about seeing the Mercantile close and yet another bar go in. Hamptons used to be residential, then a coffee shop and art gallery and now its a restaurant that makes a big point of its bar. There are far more liquor licenses now on the street than ever before. I love that Sam Hornes and Fat Rabbit and Hamptons are open for lunch, because I think that is important for the daytime businesses, so I applaud them all. But keep this in mind. While there are many people there during the evening and weekends, there aren't during the midweek day and that is only going to increase as there are fewer daytime shoppers down there. I agree with you that we need more tourist-type shops down there and I wish someone would capitalize on that, but until they do, I hope we do all we can to retain daytime businesses that keep the sun shining down there. Lastly its very easy for outsiders to judge businesses that didn't stay open for Thursday Night Market, but talk to them about their reasons before you characterize them as stupid or lazy or poor business people for not staying open.
Thanks for the history lesson. I know that is your specialty and that you know it far better than most.
My knowledge only comes from my experiences and things I've learned, heard, read and observed over the past 12 years that I've been here.
Working backwards, I did not say the business owners were stupid, lazy or poor, I said that some said they didn't want to deal with the crowds, which is their right, but not generally considered good business practice. People often open retail shops BECAUSE of the possibility of crowds, not in spite of them.
If the crowds were unruly or threatening, the art galleries, candy store and the other shops that are open would certainly shut their doors as well.
In discussing the needs of citizens and visitors and merchants, we always have conflicting opinions, ie;
- 'we need more things to do at night (bars and clubs)' vs. 'we have too many bars, this is a family town',
- 'we need more parking in the historic district' vs. the historic district is a residential area, we need less parking, and besides, people should ride bikes',
- 'we need to attract more tourists to Sutter so that businesses will survive, because the locals aren't supporting them' vs. 'we don't want to turn this into a tourist destination and all of the trouble outsiders bring. it's for locals'
- 'Sutter St. used to be family-oriented and now it's full of bars' to 'Sutter has always been rowdy at night, with drunks and fighting in the streets'
Right now, there's a discussion on Facebook about what we need. Among the suggestions, 'Crate and Barrell', a book store, and the comment 'Folsom shuts down way too early for adults'.
In the end, the market decides which businesses survive, and though some have failed, restaurants and bars still tend to be the most popular establishments.
Personally, I think it is almost shameful that we (and the school district) spend so much money on our jazz programs, from elementary all the way through high school, with a jazz festival, fundraisers and sending the kids to Monterrey and Montreaux, but there is no jazz, zero, played anywhere else in Folsom, as far as I can tell.
We have a great little amphitheater on Sutter which goes largely unused. Correct me if I'm wrong, but since it was built, its use has been limited to 2 Pink Floyd tribute shows, a Santana cover band, a Johnny Cash tribute show and and Folsom Live. I think it should be used at least every weekend, and during the week they can have noon and/or evening jazz concerts.
There are many musicians looking for gigs, many who would play for free if allowed up there.
In fact, on some Wednesdays I've seen Jerry Farrely (I think that's his last name), a great sax player, playing by himself in Pioneer Village, with no audience. Wouldn't it be better to have him on the stage, with people (locals and the dreaded tourists) sitting and listening?
End of rant for now. Bottom line is that like you, like most of us, I love this town and the historic district and I'd like to see businesses thrive there, and as long as they are not doing anything illegal, bars, tourist shops and outsiders should be welcomed.
