Business on Carson City's Bob McFadden Plaza: Two years later

This Monday marks the two-year anniversary of Bob McFadden Plaza, a walking venue designed as a draw for families and foot traffic in the downtown Carson City area. The plaza, part of a long-term downtown redevelopment plan, replaced Third Street between North Carson and Curry streets.

The ribbon was cut on the project July 30, 2016, officially opening it up for commerce. Businesses along Bob McFadden Plaza see the addition as a positive, despite losing curbside parking for their customers.

"There is more foot traffic," said Doug Cramer, who has co-owned Mom and Pops Diner with his wife, Jamesa, since 1998. "I see more families and children coming down and spending time here."

Concerts and outdoor movies are played on the built-in Third Street Stage at the plaza's west end, while a water fountain provides cool, refreshing recreation during the heat of summer.

"Our Friday night concerts and events have done very well," Cramer said.

Jim Phalan, owner of The Fox Brewpub inside the historic St. Charles Hotel, concurred with Cramer that Bob McFadden Plaza seems to be a natural draw for events.

"Groups from around the city are booking the plaza and doing their own events there, which brings a ton of business to the restaurants on the plaza," he said.

With the plaza in place, the process of bringing events to that block of downtown Carson City is streamlined, Phalan said.

"It was a real challenge pre-McFadden Plaza, calling the city to close the street, getting the permits, getting all the cars off of Third Street, delivery of the stage, installed and removed at the end of the night," he said. "It was exhausting, to say the least."

Since the public plaza opened, though, Phalan said the only step with the city now is to secure a permit for an event.

"That is it! I love it!" He said. "It is so much easier now."

Carson City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ronni Hannaman said from the very beginning, the plan for the plaza was to create a space for people to congregate downtown.

"Unlike other cities, we really had no gathering place, and Third Street seemed to have the visual of the type of western downtown that most people expected," she said. "We always knew it was going to be successful for the city and for the businesses, even though those businesses at first lamented the loss of their parking spaces.

"Seems a lot more people are frequenting there now than when those parking spaces were there," Hannaman added.

For the Cramers, Mom and Pop's customer base has maintained a strong local following, despite losing curbside parking that was an important feature for older patrons.

But the restaurant has also seen some changes in demographics with the completion of Bob McFadden Plaza, drawing a mix of long-time returning patrons and new local customers.

"Much of our business has been and continues to be a local following," said Doug Cramer, who noted more drive-by business when the plaza was Third Street. "Now it's foot traffic, a mix of locals and tourists on the plaza."

Phalan said the difference in his daily business since the completion of Bob McFadden Plaza has been like night and day.

"Now that we have settled in, and have two years under our belt of McFadden plaza, the business landscape has significantly changed for us... for the better!" He said. "I can tell you that we are up a lot!"

Revenue projections have improved for The Fox Brewpub, Phalan said, since the plaza opened to the public.

"Projecting future sales seems to be much easier and much more accurate than in years past," he said. "We have had a steady stream of business now that locals have a place to gather, play, dine and celebrate."

Geoffrey and Kimberly Landry opened their restaurant, Scoup's Ice Cream and Soup Bar, just two doors down from Mom and Pop's Diner in the Spring of 2017, about nine months after the plaza opened.

The Landrys said they couldn't be happier with the location and where their restaurant is situated on Bob McFadden Plaza.

"The plaza is an amazing location for our ice cream business," Kimberly Landry said. "The plaza brings people of every age to enjoy food, drink ice cream, events and the water fountain."

Observing people on the plaza throughout the day, Kimberly said a single family may spend an average of 2-3 hours on the plaza.

"I find that an average of 2-3 hours is spent by a single family having kids play while parents enjoy the company of friends," she said. "Last year we noticed a large amount of tourists coming to the plaza."

On an average day, Scoup's attracts at least two visitors from Lake Tahoe daily, said Kimberly, who added that most lake residents tend to be deliberate on where they go and what they do in Carson City.

"I mention Tahoe, because it has been stated on several occasions that those who reside in Tahoe come in for supplies and don't usually come into town unless they are headed to a restaurant or medical appointment," she said. "Then they find the plaza and speak of how nice it is and how they will be back."

Kimberly said the plaza not only attracts people to it, but there is a fun, recreational factor to it that seems to affect people on the inside.

"I love the energy that is at the plaza," she said. "It is very positive. Everyone comes to the plaza looking to have a wonderful time."

Kimberly said she has seen the demeanor of people change during their time on the plaza.

"It has been my experience that if someone comes into the shop grumpy, they tend to relax in the environment, whether they stay inside Scoup's or go sit on a plaza bench and people watch to unwind," she said. "I see the environment with the other businesses and find that all customers are enjoying themselves."

Speaking of the benches, though, Doug Cramer said public seating on the plaza is less desirable in hot weather.

The public benches are not only made of hard metal, but they are also painted black, both of which conduct heat.

"After just 3-4 minutes sitting on one of those, it starts getting really hot," said Cramer, who noted there is limited shade available on Bob McFadden Plaza. "There are few places to sit to get out of the heat."

Landry concurred, adding that while the plaza's planted trees are still small, something could be done to bring relief during the hot season.

"I imagine some shade would be nice, while the trees are trying to grow," she said. "Perhaps shade sails if they were placed creatively, and high enough to not obstruct the view of the buildings would be nice."