Main Street looks to rebound

POLSON — The restaurant Ricciardi’s on Main closed its doors last week, reportedly for being unable to withstand the slow winters with which its owners had to contend.

Unfortunately, the dining establishment on Polson’s Main Street is not alone. It is one of more than a half dozen former downtown businesses that now stand vacant.

The issue of shuttered storefronts came up at last week’s Polson Business Community (PBC) meeting, where a group of concerned citizens and business owners are hoping to reverse the trend by starting a community-wide discussion about how to revitalize downtown Polson.

“We were talking about ways that we can help to drive more businesses downtown and establish it in light of competition on the other side of town,” said Heather Knutson, a local business owner and Polson’s newly elected mayor, alluding to the expansion of Walmart and other larger chain stores popping up just a couple miles down the road.

Knutson mentioned that long-term leases and the inherent seasonality of local businesses have been identified as some impediments to prospective downtown entrepreneurs.

“We’re trying to find out what those barriers are and find ways to address them,” she said.

“I think everyone agrees that there needs to be someone or some group to talk to people and develop a plan of action,” said Knutson, noting that the topic is being discussed in several separate circles but has yet to be focused into a concerted effort.

For instance, in January, the Polson Chamber of Commerce and the Lake County Job Service unveiled the Polson Growth Business Action Plan, which, according to a press release, “seeks to provide information about the business community and the local area and to welcome potential entrepreneurs to town.”

Jackie Cripe, owner of Jackie M’s Footwear, attended the PBC meeting and believes that trying to enhance the variety of downtown businesses is essential.

“[We need] to figure out the businesses we need as a balance — not just to duplicate what we have, but to find ways to find things that bring more of a variety to downtown Polson,” said Cripe, who is confident that doing so will help attract more customers downtown to shop.

Cripe believes that achieving a symbiotic relationship between downtown merchants will be a key determinant in their future success.

“Each of us can only be as good as our neighboring businesses,” she says.

Knutson insists that the benefits from a revitalized downtown would extend far beyond the wallets of just a few local merchants.

“I think it’s the heart of Polson,” said Knutson, articulating the importance of maintaining a vibrant downtown.

“In my opinion, downtowns represent community, and we don’t want to lose that.”