First Street Block Party fails to draw expected crowds; some owners remain optimistic

The First Street Block Party saw greatly diminished attendance last Saturday afternoon, but vendors and store owners in the area weren’t too disappointed it the low turnout.

The overcast day still drew a number of concerts and demonstrations from local bands and organizations.

Jaime Herrera, who owns JRB Multimedia on First Street and is the main organizer of the party, said that he suspects that other Saturday commitments kept people away from the party.

“We know how to throw a party, we just haven’t figured out how to send an invitation,” Herrera said.

He noted that this was the first day that the party was held on a Saturday instead of Friday.

Keil Kei, a high school student in Covington volunteering with Project Uth, said that it was a lot busier last year and she expected more people to come by. Herrera said that in years before the party has attracted hundreds of people to the business district.

Sally Myers, owner of the Red Hen Green House, used booth space to sell flowers and plants, was satisfied with the day.

“I made a profit, I’m good,” she said. “As long as there’s music, it’s OK.”

Other first street business owners had mixed reviews of the day, but even though they admit that attendance was low, they felt that they came out on top.

“I had a great time and invited clients and our friends, so for me it was pretty OK,” said Jill Maurice, who own’s Northwest Electrology and Permanent Makeup.

Maurice supplied a full party spread at her business to meet and greet existing customers and potentially new clients. While she admits that the day didn’t draw as much business as she hoped, she remained optimistic about the situation, saying that when you have any group of people, some will see the glass as half full and some half empty.