Chamber of Commerce’s Oysterfest to be Moved to Lake Avenue, Abandoning Cookman Businesses
It was recently brought to our attention that the Chamber of Commerce (who’s only goal is promoting Asbury Park businesses, right?) has selected the Passion Group to produce the incredibly successful Oysterfest, and decided to change the location of the event to Lake Avenue.
First off, we applaud the Chamber for selecting an Asbury Park business to produce the event. However, moving the event to Lake Avenue has many Cookman Avenue Business owners upset.
The entire reason for the Chamber to even DO events like Oysterfest is to promote the city’s businesses. By moving it to Lake Avenue, it not only takes business away from Cookman avenue, but it also fails to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase our historic Downtown Shopping District. With an estimated 10k people coming to town, we cannot afford to miss the opportunity to show potential business owners, shoppers, and restaurant visitors all that we have to offer every other day of the year.
Furthermore, we’re questioning the decision to now charge a $5 entrance fee – on top of the already expensive food and beverages. Last years’ Oysterfest was the best possible way to promote THIS years – but after this year, will we be able to bring anyone back next year? Its IMPERATIVE that the Chamber of Commerce consider the petition being signed by the downtown businesses, and relocate the Oysterfest BACK to Cookman avenue.
Sign our petition to KEEP Oysterfest on Cookman Avenue;
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/oysterfest
We contacted the Chamber for comments about the event, however we have not yet received an official response. Steven Troy, of Robert Legere Home, email us with the following information;
Many of the business owners including ourselves actively participated in the discussions and decisions surrounding the 2009 Oysterfest event.
Here are the facts:
1. The APCC did not sell the rights to Oysterfest, we own the rights and can select a different Producer every year if we so choose.
2. The APCC Marketing Committee, made up of extremely talented and qualified professionals, considered numerous proposal from over 6 RFP’s before recommending two finalists to our Executive Committee.
3. The Executive Committee spent 3 hours hearing full presentations from the finalists .
4. The Executive Committee then made a recommendation to the entire 16 member Board and it was unanimously approved.
5. The production company we selected, The Passion Group, has extensive experience in producing World Class Events far bigger than our Oysterfest event. But more importantly, they have already proved that they can produce a very successful event for our chamber. The Taste of Asbury was a resounding success according to virtually everyone who attended and the APCC Board.My last thought is in regard to holding the event on Lake Avenue. Right now it is in fact most picturesque location between the boardwalk and downtown. An event in this location, would for the first time we have successfully bridged the downtown with the boardwalk, Something that is desperately needed. If we as a total community want to succeed we must work cooperatively to create a sense of community. The focused we stay on this goal, the more people will visit our city and the more we will all benefit.
A last comment, our two companies have been one of the major anchors of the downtown for over seven years and we are strongly in favor of the plans for the 2009 Oysterfest event. Having participated in the process, we feel very confident that Passion Group will produce an outstanding event that will benefit the Boardwalk, Downtown and Main Street.
Mike of the Passion Group sent this email :
Dear Asbury Park Business Owners:
Coming off from a very successful Taste of Asbury Park, we realize the importance of communication and keeping everyone up to speed as we plan our future events. That is why we are taking the time to update you now.
We have spent the last month having internal meetings discussing the goals of the Chamber, reviewing last year’s event pros & cons and listening to local merchants and event attendees.
Please review the attached information brochure outlining the proposed event location, media partners and renderings. We look forward to answering any questions you might have.
New for this year will be a $5 entrance fee, providing Chamber members, vendors and sponsors more value than ever before.
* $100 off for every participating Chamber member (as low as $200 craft and $400 food participants)
* 2 covered stages with concert sound and 4 national bands (including John Eddie and Holme)
* Huge children’s area with boardwalk style games
* Significantly lower participation cost by eliminating Oyster Bucks and profit sharingWith the new location we are able to provide the following:
* Create a festive gateway for visitors walking down Cookman Avenue from the transportation center to the entrance. Possibly stenciling oyster shells on the street, creating balloon arches etc…This will allow for retails to have sidewalk sales and take advantage of the thousands of mass transit attendees that will be making their way to the event down the Cookman Avenue corridor.
* Allow restaurants and retailers to “double-dip” as a store front and a vendor.
* Secure the event site using the minimum amount of perimeter fencing.
* More than double the event size and area, creating a comfortable environment for guests.
* Add seating, benches and shaded “green” space where patrons can enjoy their food and the music.
* Utilize all the available parking throughout Asbury Park.
* Most importantly…we are creating a bridge to connect the downtown and boardwalk Chamber members. (please keep in mind, the Chamber responsibility is to promote all 230 members.)As with “Taste of Asbury Park” our door is always open. Please feel free to send me an email, call me or stop in our office.
We look forward to seeing you next Thursday as we are hosting an open forum for Chamber members to discuss the Chamber’s 2009 Asbury Park Oyster Festival.
Thursday June 11 at The Passion Group Office
3:00pm – Taste of Asbury Park Recap meeting for participants only
3:30pm – Open Oyster Festival Meeting for all Chamber businesses.RSVP to mikeh [at] thepassiongroup.com so I can have seating available.
Best wishes for a successful weekend!
Thanks,
Mike Hollemans
Logistics DirectorThe Passion Group
600 Cookman Ave
Asbury Park, NJ 07712732-897-1111 x103
www.thepassiongroup.com
There are many questions the issue and the response raise for me, but foremost is the argument that Lake Avenue is the most picturesque place to have this event.
I totally disagree that the view of Ocean Grove is the most appealing to the eye. Rather, I think a vibrant eclectic and diverse city street is both most attractive and indicative of our community.
As far as the method and reasoning for moving the successful event to another street, I would very much like to hear more and hope the Chamber of Commerce responds in greater detail.
As a business owner on Cookman Avenue. although only now celebrating my 1st anniversary, I am very much opposed to moving this event. If however, it truly is to the great benefit of Asbury Park as a whole, I would support it. I do not yet believe that to be the case, but I would like to hear more.
Additionally, I do not see how this “bridges” the DownTown & The Boardwalk, although I certainly hope it does. I keep hoping that we can bridge the gap that exists between the downtown and the boardwalk by having a sidewalk installed, but that seems to be beyond the ability of the City to date.
I hope that this dialogue continues and I think its good for all involved to keep the lines of communication open!
Thanks allasburypark.com for starting the conversation!
I agree with Steve in that Lake is a pretty street…showcasing Ocean Grove. I also agree that there needs to be a bridge between the boardwalk and downtown. So as Kathy mentioned… where are the side walks and lighting that would make it an easy walk from downtown to the boardwalk.?Where are the signs on the boardwalk showing vistitors where downtown is, and that is it walkable? There should be a directory of downtown businesses on the boardwalk and a directory of boardwalk and downtown business at the head of cookman ave. Mapquest should be asked to show the direct route to the beach as down Cookman or Mattison… To showcase the vast developemnt that is going on downtown. Downtown Asbury Park (Bangs.Mattison, Cookman, Lake) has over 65 businesses with many more slated to open. The board walk has about 20 businessses. The downtown is VIABLE and needs and deserves to be touted. Last year’s Oyster Fest was a HUGE success for the participants. It was a low entry fee (250.00) verses a extreme entry fee of 500.00 this year. A 5.00 fee for the public to defray costs for the restaurants…I dont see how the math ads up. All particpants need to be given a breakdown of what the costs for the fair are… how the money that Passion Group/Chamber of Commerce are making is being allocated ( everyone last year got a break down of what each business made) The Chamber of Commerce is NOT A BUSINESS, and should not be looking to make money. These programs should make the businesses in town money. I did not join the Chamber this year, and no one seemed to care, which is fine. I think that in order for the Chamber to be effective, we (the businesses of Asbury Park) need to have access to the budget… marketing plans… elections etc… If some of these things were presented… there could be a reason to be a member of the Chamber. So far the only reason there is, is to save 100.00 on a booth at Oyster Fest.
I thought the 2008 Oysterfest was both entertaining and a great promotion for local businesses. Holding the festival on Lake Ave. will only highlight the rear of most Asbury Park CBD buildings and the need for a paint job or 2. There is always the possibility newcomers to Asbury will be asking why Wesley Lake looks so unhealthy.
As the founding member of the Cookman Ave. Residents Association, I am in full support of Passion Group moving the festival back to Cookman Ave. Just keep the set up of the stage away from our residential units. Please.
Here is a light suggestion: maybe the Passion Group should require that each vendor come with enough food and beverage for the entirety of the festival. Last year, tickets were still being sold while almost all vendors had run out of food.
One year the Taste of Asbury was located on Lake. I think it was about 4 years ago. The highlight of the event was the extraction of a dead body from the Lake. YUM!
I agree with the sentiment of the comments here.
Thank you for providing these comments which help us to better understand both sides of the story. While the need for a means of bridging the boardwalk and downtown is a critical to maintaining the overall health of the organism known as AP, I do not agree that bringing people to Lake Avenue will accomplish that goal. It is the least pretty area of AP due to the “backside view” of most of the buildings, save Moonstruck. The view of OG is pleasant but that’s not who we’re supposed to be promoting. While I am trying hard to understand the rationale, I don’t have any idea what might cause people to funnel backward into downtown if all their needs are being met so nicely by the event-experienced Passion Group – most attendees will simply stay put. As a former general manager of shopping centers I’ve spent many painful hours working to resurrect struggling retail in challenging markets and the lessons I learned were many. Here are two that might apply to Asbury: 1. Never drive traffic away from stores even if you have a better event “space” out in the parking lot or in a near by area regardless of the amount of natural beauty that may be present. The end result is that people come, they enjoy the event and they leave, never to have dropped a dollar in a store and b) when tenants are struggling landlords need to understand that the relationship is a partnership and some rent is better than no rent. Be flexible. The tenant you save is one who will stick with you and all good real estate people know that tenant turnover costs money, plus, we are not in a market where people are knocking down the door to sign up just yet. Rent relief can take many forms – how about a reduced base rent + % of sales over a break point? This way everyone is a partner in the upside yet the base rent affords the landlord some insulation from the downside. How about it?
And one more thing that worries me. I was very sad to see not one, but two of the local police officers enter Americas Cup to tell the owner he had to remove his outdoor tables because there was no rope around them. I imagine there must be a good business reason for this, but I don’t believe it was explained. Cafe seating is a huge draw for food businesses and creating a boundary between the tables and the public seems detrimental to the natural flow of food patrons and waitstaff and may even pose a trip hazard. Can someone clarify this for me? I can vouch for the fact that the tables in question occupied about 1/3 of the depth of the sidewalk and that egress was not impeded in any way. I know it had a negative impact on his business as I watched several people wander over then walk away as the tables and chair were folded and put away.
All of the businesses in Asbury need to be able to deploy every marketing tool in their bag of tricks – as long as it is not creating a serious problem. I’m just wondering if there is anyone who truly understands what it takes to survive as a retailer in city hall? – this is not a judgement, just a question. I think the stores need more empathic support of their initiatives and less “mall-cop” policing…or they will go away. I’d prefer not to see this as a boardwalk-only town. Do we really want another Atlantic City?
If nothing else, at least we are now having a conversation!
I understand the Chamber is disturbed by what it sees at negative backlash, but now a dialogue has been opened. Yes, many businesses that have been complaining are not Chamber members. Perhaps they will become members based on the response and the willingness to communicate with businesses in town. A responsive Chamber that has more transparency and communications with its membership AND ITS NEIGHBORS can only be a better Chamber. Other promotional companies operate in the city and generally consider the interests of their fellow business entities in their decisions. We as a City would not tolerate an event or a promoter that said, ” We are only concerned with the opinions of our investors and not those businesses who have not invested in our event”. The fact is, it is good business to be a good neighbor. And good neighbors work to keep positive relationships.
Anyway, I for one am happy to hear the conversation continue and wish the best of luck to all involved. Here’s to a great season!
I attended the meeting at the passion group yesterday with an open mind. I appreciated that they listed many areas to improve the event from last year. What was missing from the conversation was all the things that went right with Oysterfest last year.
One person even complained that the street was so crowded she couldn’t carry boxes to venues. Isn’t that what we want?!!! We want Cookman Ave crowded. Overall last years event was a winning formula. By changing the location near Kennedy Park, it will pull people away from the shopping and restaurant district and when they are done with the festival they will just leave town. I am a Chamber member and appreciate using a local business to promote this event, but from what I saw from the presentation , there no effort to have any activities onto Cookman ave other then having a few balloon arches or clams painted on the streets. Its its not broke , don’t fix it!
Just had a chance to catch up on some comments… and honestly, each comment above have some great points…We have had many meetings and talks with local business owners on Cookman who have brought up suggestions and we are thankful for everyone’s excitement about the event. The suggestions and feedback is all being sent back to the Chamber and they (I) will keep you updated of any changes.
Although to the last point…”If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”
All though the event was busy, we clearly laid out many “broke” parts of last year’s event…congestion, lack of seating, lack of beer and oysters, regular visitors couldn’t get to the stores, lack of parking, lack of shade, residential noise complaints, poor children’s area, poor VIP area, lines were to long for the width of the street, participation fees were not fair, minors drinking and many visitors BYOB to the event….
In no way am I saying the event was bad…but it did leave some room for improvement, which the Chamber is trying to do.
Thanks,
Mike