DENVER—Strains of a saxophone soloist’s jazz melody drifted through crowds of delegates and visitors strolling along a downtown pedestrian mall Tuesday as vendors hawked food, art, candles and, of course, Democratic convention trinkets.
Conversation snippets ranged from celebrity sightings to issues of the day for participants of the Democratic National Convention, which has drawn thousands of people to this Rocky Mountain city. Small groups of police officers, some on foot and others on bicycles, kept an ever-present vigil.
Although pedestrian traffic has been heavy, vendors and businesses on the 16th Street Mall reported mixed sales results.
“It’s been good,” said Bret Goodman, owner of Jerri’s Tobacco and Fine Wine shop. “I know I’m one of the few.”
Goodman, whose shop is in the Denver Pavilions at one end of the 16-block mall, said he has seen a double-digit bump in sales since Sunday, which was better than he expected.
Goodman credited the increase to his specialty merchandise and said some fellow business owners have been less fortunate.
“A lot of the local business isn’t here,” he said, noting a parking garage below the Pavilions complex has had fewer cars this week than he has seen in the 2 1/2 years he has owned the shop.
Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, national political conventions haven’t proven to be the economic boon they once were. Costs have mounted with increased security, and disruptions ranging from protests to heavy traffic can deter locals from visiting businesses near convention sites.
Denver is hoping the Democratic convention will provide an economic boost ranging from $150 million to $200 million. Other economists believe the impact may be as little as one-tenth of that amount because conventioneers are tied up with delegation business and typically aren’t big spenders.
The outdoor pedestrian mall that stretches most of the way across downtown is home to a diverse array of restaurants, shops and businesses. Federal government offices are nearby, as is the headquarters for such Colorado companies as Molson Coors Brewing Co.
Overall, about 110,000 people work in the area, which has more than 1,000 shops and restaurants.
During the convention, many businesses have allowed employees to work from home because of concerns over security restrictions and traffic.
It’s too early to calculate overall results among businesses, but restaurants and mall vendors have reported doing well, said Sarah Neumann of Downtown Denver Partnership Inc., which represents the area’s business district.
“People seem to be loving it,” she said, adding that her group has heard no complaints.
At midday, passers-by gathered around vendors selling Democratic convention merchandise, buttons and T-shirts featuring Barack Obama. A few enthusiastic people twirled large signs promoting restaurants and other businesses. Another man sold newspapers to raise money for the homeless.
Rodney Cyr of south Denver manned a booth for The Environmental Coalition, selling reusable carryall bags. He described business as “all right,” and said traffic was busier than usual.
Anna Marie Mautz, 69, of Denver, sat on a bench beneath a shade tree, watching the passers-by, wearing a flag pin on her red jacket. “This is a chance of a lifetime,” she said.
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