Multivendor outlets boost business landscape in downtown Elgin
While the pandemic was especially difficult for the small business community, a downtown Elgin business support group says it found some good news.
The Elgin Downtown Neighborhood Association's recent quarterly meeting revealed the results of its second annual "Business Walk," a walking inventory of downtown businesses. And depending on how you look at it, there are more offerings than a year ago.
"It's very helpful for us to get out there and literally get boots on the ground and visit these locations and actually physically count the businesses," Executive Director Jennifer Fukala said.
The walk was done in January and February with help from volunteers from the group's economic development committee. The downtown area is basically defined as National Street north to Kimball Street and from Route 31 east to Dundee Avenue and Villa Street.
Fukala said Elgin certainly did not escape the national trend of small business closings during the pandemic. "We know we lost some businesses," she said. But they also found that multivendor outlets boosted the overall number of "business entities" downtown. These outlets include multiple vendors operating independently but utilizing shared space under one roof.
The January 2020 inventory found 296 small businesses and organizations downtown. This year's inventory found 258 individual businesses operating, but more vendors with the opening of businesses like the Meraki Market Hub and new the coworking opportunities of Dream Kitchen at Dream Hall. Those account for 72 businesses in multi-vendor concepts. The downtown association called it a net gain of 34 new businesses.
"Yes, we have taken a step back with individual businesses but there are a lot of these multi-vendor concepts that might be the next generation of businesses that branch out on their own downtown," she said.
Fukula also noted recent expansion of existing businesses downtown as a positive sign. Projects are underway or were recently completed at Martin Auto Service, Red Poppy Bistro and Whatnots and Whimsies.
The downtown association has undergone changes in its service model in the last few years, and in February transitioned to a free service for businesses in the downtown district after receiving more financial support from the city in the most recent budget. The nonprofit focuses on downtown economic development and promotion, community building and collaboration, beautification and perception.
More changes are planned, but the pandemic has put some things on hold.
"When COVID hit, everything changed because everyone's needs and priorities changed and there was more need for business support services," Fukala said.
The downtown association has unveiled a few new initiatives, including a downtown Elgin online photo gallery in partnership with several local photographers, informational kiosks with QR codes to access interactive maps and a partnership with SpotsOnTheFox.com, an online retail platform dedicated to the greater Fox Valley.