We need more engaging action on the streets

This dead streetscape above was one side of Main Highway on Monday. This photo below was right across the street. See the difference? People, lots of people are shopping. The street above has nothing to stop and engage the couple who is walking. They are probably going from one end of the Grove right to CocoWalk, one straight run.


Here across the street at Tula and Tupi, it was crowded with shoppers. This was the scene all weekend. Tula and Tupi was having a going out of business sale, but to draw in the customers, they called Mo and Douglas from Eccentricity Creative Art-Wear who brought lots of jewelry and items that attracted the passersby. Tula and Tupi sold out their items inside and Eccentricity sold all the jewelry and items outside.


On a quiet, Labor Day Monday, they had customers from morning to night. This may be one answer to getting more people on the streets of Coconut Grove. We aren't taking about clothing racks, but perhaps more musicians, kiosks and items for sale on the streets will add some life. Maybe some artists painting, too. When Eileen Seitz was painting the information booth, it drew a lot of attention and liveliness to the area.


Eccentricity had the most popular booth at the Mad Hatter Festival last year. They have what people want and it sells. Paul's sunglasses and jewlery at his Mayfair kiosk draws lots of people from the tour buses. When the buses stop near this area, they are drawn right over. When they are dropped off further down the block, they have nothing to stop and enchant them.

So many days we see a busload of tourists on the Gray Line buses and a handful get off. The others are not tempted to exit the hop on, hop off buses, they want to stay on and go to Little Havana or wherever the next stop is. We need to get them all off the buses. Street vendors, with quality items will maybe help get the tourists to stop and stay.

We need to enchant and engage the tourists (and locals) on a daily basis, not just on days that we have events.