Merchants Experiencing Slow Development of Tourism Dollars

At the turn of the 20th century, the railroad helped established Elkins as a bustling, economically viable town. The revitalization and business expansion in the historic railyard are bringing a new type of economy to town - tourism.

Between the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad and the American Mountain Theater, tourists are arriving by the bus loads. Special train rides and AMT shows have been created to meet demands. But could Railroad Avenue be the point where bus loads of people and their dollars barely cross?

According Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ellen Spears, downtown businesses are experiencing a slow development of tourism dollars.

"We realize there's work to do," Spears said.

There is some frustration among merchants who aren't attracting large numbers of tourists, Spears explained. Talking to merchants, Spears said it is her understanding tour groups do not have a lot of time to shop downtown. A marketing plan to encourage touring companies to allow time for their tourists to visits shops downtown could help, Spears explained.

As the leaves begin to change, merchants could receive more tourists in their shops.

"It's not over," Spears said of the fall tourist season.

Country Creations is one example of businesses that have the potential to capitalize on tourist dollars, but aren't. Country Creations is across from the depot, but tourists have little time to shop before the train departs, explained owner Tina Mullenex.

She has tried to coordinate her hours with the train departure and arrival times, but it doesn't seem to work out. Those who are dropped off by buses are usually on a tight schedule, Mullenex said. Customers who do venture to her shop often have fewer than 10 minutes to look around and make a purchase, she explained. Tourists aren't very happy about either, according to Mullenex.

One woman hoped to spend some time shopping downtown after she got off the train, Mullenex said of one of her customers who told her the tour company didn't inform the group that they would not have time to shop before they were ushered to dinner at Graceland.

Tourists who arrive in their own vehicles do stop by Country Creations, but not in significant numbers, she said. As with bus groups, those who drove themselves arrive just in time to board the train.

"They spend a lot of money on the train tickets," Mullenex said. "I know they don't want to miss their train."

What might be holding the coveted tourist market back is lack of signage at the depot, Mullenex said. A directory of downtown businesses at the depot informing visitors about the shops and restaurants in the downtown area could be helpful, Mullenex suggested.

"It doesn't look like there's a lot when you step off the train," Mullenex said.

Since opening in April Mullenex has been happy with business thus far, but additional customers who ride the train would help.

Downtown Elkins' newest business, Hopscotch opened in August and owner Sherry Hammer is pleased with sales. Some of her patrons are people visiting from out of town. The same can be said to describe clientele for Hopscotch's sister store, Third Street Trading Co. owned by Hammer's daughter Hope Anderson. Conferences in the area and Davis & Elkins College events have expanded Third Street Trading Co.'s loyal client base, according to the mother-daughter team.

However, they said it's not always easy to determine if an unfamiliar face is part of a bus group riding the train.

The two agreed that workers at the Convention and Visitors Bureau are always helpful in ushering out-of-town patrons to the downtown area. To help spread the word even more of their businesses, they plan to place "rack cards" at the railroad depot.

When the Fourth of July car show was moved to the streets of downtown Elkins, several merchants saw an increase in business, owners said after the event. Third Street Trading Co. was not an exception, Anderson explained. Several patrons used the coupon for the shop that is part of a downtown merchants' booklet during the car show.

Although many who bring their cars to Elkins for the show prefer the park, according to Spears, Anderson and Hammer would like to see the car show downtown again. If businesses are given the opportunity to prepare for the increased number of visitors, car owners would probably be pleased with the outcome, they said.

Altering business hours will work only if the majority of downtown shops remain open together, Anderson said.

Mondays through Saturdays Hopscotch is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Third Street Trading Co. is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Anderson and Hammer are looking forward to a busy fall.

Elkins Sewing Center at the corner of Davis Avenue and Third Street is busy year-round, explained owner Sue Pifer. And the business is not just for locals.

Word of mouth and advertising has spread the word of the Elkins Sewing Center to nearly every surrounding state, Delaware and Alaska, Pifer explained.

For the most part, Pifer sees independent travelers rather than bus groups in her shop. Those who do drive themselves usually arrive at the Sewing Center at around 9:15 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Pifer said.

Business hours posted at the Sewing Center are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, Pifer doesn't always let set hours run her business.

Two or three days a week Pifer holds classes that last until 9 p.m. As long as someone is in the store, Pifer said she welcomes customers. She has found some bus groups have free time between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. And when she is open past her posted hours, some people from the bus groups venture in.

Some tourists browse and others buy, Pifer explained. To help increase tourist purchases, Pifer said she stocks train, leaf and other fabrics that remind visitors of the area.

Other downtown stores aren't lacking items unique to the area, Pifer explained. If Pifer were visiting Elkins, she said would be compelled to make a few purchases from downtown merchants.

The Kissel Stop along Third Street is frequented by locals and out-of-town visitors, according to owner Sandy Kissel. Summer business went well for The Kissel Stop, but the business from the train was less than expected, she said.

"They don't get to make it downtown," Kissel said of the bus tours.

Kissel usually knows when a tourist pops in because they say a local hotel or business recommend the coffee shop, she explained. Those who are referred to Kissel are usually traveling in their own vehicle, she said.

Downtown merchants have talked about changing hours to draw more tourists and locals, but Kissel has already tried it - it didn't work.

"We would be willing if it was worth it," Kissel said. "I don't know what else we could do."

The Kissel Stop is open Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fall is expected to be a busy time for Kissel. But it's hard to predict exactly what the future holds in the restaurant/coffee shop business, she explained.

Business at Expressions Gift Shop was better than last summer, according to owner Marlene Mallow and she's predicting fall through Christmas should be bigger.

Approximately 50 percent of Mallow's business is local, she said. The other 50 percent is split between 20 percent tourists and 30 percent from those who live in surrounding counties.

Mallow said she hopes to experience the trickle down effect of the continuing railyard development.