People have a lot of ideas for downtown Le Mars, according to recent results of a Main Street Iowa-directed survey and analysis.
Nearly 75 percent of those surveyed placed high priority on expanding and recruiting business. Requests from the about 350 people surveyed range from general, like add more stores downtown, to specific suggestions, like bring in Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.
"The biggest thing we're taking from the Main Street Analysis Survey is just a confirmation of our goal to get other stores throughout the community," said Le Mars Main Street Director Mary Reynolds. "One thing the chamber doesn't like to see is an empty building. The Chamber's no. 1 goal is to recruit, assist individuals moving a business here or opening a new business."
Business recruitment is ongoing. The Chamber is working with local realtors on showing available business buildings in LeMars. The businesses considering locating in Le Mars were a variety, and several were invited by the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce.
The surveys and analysis pointed out three needs the community feels it has in terms of adding businesses, she said.
Dressing it up
In the survey, 124 people said they would support a new clothing business in Le Mars. Most requests were simply for a general store, but 38 people requested children's or family clothing, and 26 asked for additional women's clothing downtown. Seven suggested adding a men's clothing store.
Eating out
Sixty-eight people made requests on the surveys for dining options.
Several suggested adding a café downtown, while others asked for an "American food" restaurant and a few mentioned a fast food chain. The downtown analysis pointed out that residents living within a 20-minute drive from the center of downtown Le Mars are spending about $4 million at restaurants in other communities.
Most of the money leaving Le Mars is spent at full-service restaurants -- those that offer waiter service during the entire meal. That situation, the analysis report stated, might suggest prospects are good for existing restaurants to expand or new establishments to open in Le Mars, especially full-service ones.
New prescription
Pharmacy requests were also high on the survey, with 48 people mentioning recruiting a pharmacy specifically.
Some suggested a new pharmacy combined with a variety store or a soda fountain. The analysis report said the demand in Le Mars for a downtown pharmacy was "relatively strong."
General merchandise requests on the survey were equally prominent -- showing up in 50 people's answers.
About one-half said they'd like to see a department store added downtown. The other half sought discount and variety stores and other discount centers.
An acupuncture business, an antique shop, a book store, a music store, a cigar shop, and other specialty shops were also suggested.
On with the show
Adding entertainment to the downtown, especially updating or replacing the movie theater, was a major survey request.
How to recruit
The analysis report suggested capitalizing on repeat business -- it found the most people shop in downtown Le Mars for cards, gifts, clothing and shoes.
"As a cluster, these business types work to enhance the 'draw' for downtown Le Mars and could serve as strong building blocks for business expansion and recruitment efforts," the report stated.
Le Mars planners, the report added, should look for business growth opportunities that compliment these businesses and service businesses like banks, which draw the most people downtown Le Mars.
The analysis also pointed out that Le Mars draws customers from outside the community for auto sales and parts, specialty food stores and limited-service eating places (like fast food restaurants).
These strengths can be expanded upon, the report said.
The places Le Mars loses shoppers to other communities -- department stores, home furnishing stores, building materials stores, gas stations, health and personal care stores and full-service restaurants -- might suggest unmet needs in the community, the report added.
The Chamber is reviving an advisory committee to help with downtown recruiting ideas. That group, the Business Improvement Committee, can then give direction to city planners, she said.
In a survey of more than 20 businesses, about 43 percent said it was highly or moderately likely they would expand in the next one or two years. In addition, about 15 percent of the businesses surveyed said they'd likely expand their inventory in the next year, and another 15 percent said they'd likely add employees in that same time period.
These are positive indicators for downtown Le Mars, the analysis report stated.
Downtown appeal
More than 50 people commented on the appearance of downtown Le Mars in the survey, asking for updates and renovations. Several urged planners to consider setting a unified theme for downtown, similar to the Dutch look of Orange City.
The biggest request was improving the look of storefronts.
Transforming some upstairs apartments of businesses is among the Chamber’s five-year goals. They would like to see them revamped with a more funky, modern look to draw young professionals.
The analysis report suggested adding to the "Ice Cream Capital of the World" theme in the next few years. Keep both the local resident and the "Ice Cream Capital of the World" visitor in mind when approaching public improvements, the report said.
Listening to the community
One major course of action the analysis suggested was to keep an ear to public input on any downtown improvements.
"This is a good start -- asking the citizens," one respondent wrote on the survey.
The survey is just that, the beginning, Reynolds said. "We plan to visit with every business in the community and talk more in depth about this," she explained. "And secondly, we're forming a focus group of people to meet and look at the study, see what we can build on and what things we can fix."
The group will meet with city officials, business people and citizens from all demographics, Reynolds said.
Free copies of the survey and analysis results are available at the Chamber office.
