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Tarpon To Help Promote Local Businesses

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: November 8, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - Everyone with a finger on the city's business pulse agrees there is a desperate need to attract shoppers to the Sponge Docks, downtown and other commercial areas of the city.

Interim City Manager Mark LeCouris said a grassroots marketing plan he brought before the City Commission on Tuesday night, which he has dubbed "Promote Tarpon Springs First," can make it happen.

"Someday cities like Safety Harbor and Dunedin will look at us and say, 'why can't we do that,'" LeCouris said.

Commissioners unanimously voted to approve LeCouris' business promotion plan.

During the commission's discussion of the business-boosting plan, Mayor Beverley Billiris said she does not want to see more vacant storefronts. That could happen if something is not done quickly to help the struggling business community survive these tough economic times, she said.

There is a desperate need to attract visitors to the Sponge Docks, the downtown district along Tarpon and Pinellas avenues and other commercial areas, she said.

Her husband, George Billiris, a veteran Sponge Docks businessman, is planning a series of monthly music concerts to attract visitors to the riverfront tourist district, the mayor said. The concerts will be held in two parking lots at the Sponge Docks the Billiris family owns.

The city is pulling out all the stops in its efforts to aid local businesses, LeCouris said. It is working with different shopkeepers and business groups, he said.

In addition, the city has put in place mechanisms offering logistical help and other types of support to business-organized events anywhere in the city, LeCouris said.

For the first time business groups downtown, at the Sponge Docks and businesses in other areas of town are pledging to work together in a grassroots effort to attract visitors. All they have to do is come up with an event and everyone will then pitch in to help.

"If a shopping plaza, such as Manatee Village, wants to hold an event, we will help," LeCouris said. "If the Sponge Docks or shopkeepers on Tarpon Avenue come up with a plan we will support them."

Merchants along Tarpon Avenue witnessed the benefit of working together when the Cops and Kids program brought about 400 youngsters downtown for Halloween trick or treating, LeCouris said. Cops and Kids is a Police Department youth program.

"Shopkeepers downtown were surprised at the turnout," LeCouris said of the Halloween event. "We are going to build on that next year with even more stuff."

Sue Thomas, the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce president and chief operating officer, praised LeCouris' attempt to organize a unified marketing effort.

Commissioner Peter Dalacos said the city has to do a better job of publicizing events and spread the word about them to people outside Tarpon Springs.

Some downtown storeowners have commented the many flea market-type events merely attract vendors that complete with their antique shops, Dalacos noted.

After commissioners approved LeCouris' business promotion plan, the interim city manager said any business looking for help putting on an event should call him at City Hall.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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