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Expanded vendors cause stir at St. Charles Scarecrow Fest

Some merchants are crying foul that temporary food vendors for St. Charles' 29th annual Scarecrow Festival this weekend have blocked store entrances, set up equipment on sidewalks and are ultimately hurting local businesses.

Festival organizers say this is part of the balancing act of getting the city exposure that will lead to more business in the long run and the short-term inconveniences caused by the festival.

The main point of contention is a parking lot in the 0-99 block of Third Street, which is closed to cars and hosts booths and a large food vendor whose tent has obscured signage for antique shops at the restaurant Thai Zie Noodles and Bar.

Thai Zie owner, Champ Akkarapol, said the parking lot has been closed in the past for small retail goods, but this is the first time a food vendor has been included and the setup is on the sidewalk in front of his restaurant.

Akkarapol said the limited visibility resulted in just six customers as of midafternoon Friday, when normally the restaurant is half full during the festival.

He said receipts from Scarecrow Fest have declined in each of the last seven years.

"It's not a fair business practice, in my opinion," Akkarapol said. "It's destroying the charm of the fest. They should support local businesses at the same time."

Amy Egolf, executive director of the St. Charles Visitors and Convention Bureau, said she was "disappointed" to hear of complaints from local businesses.

She said organizers do their best to put on a festival that will draw visitors to the city for the weekend and beyond.

Egolf acknowledged the festival can be inconvenient at times, but local merchants were informed via letter of what to expect during this year's festival.

"The entire festival is to provide exposure for all of the businesses in downtown St. Charles," Egolf said.

"It's not a new event. We've been doing it for 29 years, successfully. But there has to be some give and take on the business side."

Carolyn Jones, an employee at the Antique Market 1, 11 N. Third St., said the letter detailed street closings but made no mention of food vendors in the parking lot.

Jones said she had to ask the visitors bureau to have a vendor remove a tent Friday morning that was on the sidewalk near their shop and in the way of their store sign.

"Nobody could see it from the parking lot," Jones said. "Last year, we only had the scarecrow making (in the parking lot). This year we had more tents, and we were not notified."

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