BUSINESS

ALEX MCINTYRE

The downtown business district is seen in Windsor May 25, 2021.

BUSINESSES IN WINDSOR CONTINUE TO THRIVE DESPITE A CHALLENGING 2020

BY TAMARA MARKARD

It’ s no secret that 2020 posed more than a few challenges to businesses fighting to survive during a pandemic.

As numerous companies across the U.S. shuttered their operations or drastically downsized,being a business owner was not the optimal choice for a profession.

“It’ s been a rough year at every level for all cities and towns. We ’ ve all been dealing with the same issues, maybe just at a different level, but certainly with the same emotion, ” said Scott Charpentier, Windsor Town Board Member and Town Board Liaison for the Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

Despite the economic challenges 2020 served, businesses in the town of Windsor — both existing and new— have managed to thrive. By deciding to expand parking, liquor licensing regulations, adding to-go features,paying for food delivery

“I think we did an awful lot and fortunately, I think we are coming out on the other side of it, ”

service fees and fast-tracking it all, the town board was able to help support its businesses during one of the hardest economic situations communities have faced in years.

“I think we did an awful lot and fortunately, I think we are coming out on the other side of it, ” Charpentier said. “So, I think we are moving pretty good. ”

Some of the new establishments added to the town ’ s business sector over the past year include Peculier Ales,The Mill Event Venue,Red Zone Athletics, Frae and Co.Salon,Black Label Home Solutions and Yuzu Asian Bistro.

“Our businesses are resilient. In the downtown,we did have a few businesses that closed, but those that did were almost immediately backfilled with new businesses, ” said Matt Ashby,executive director of the Windsor Downtown

Development Authority. “With this ‘ can do ’ attitude, I think the businesses in Windsor are poised for great returns as we get back to normal life. ”

The addition of Windsor Warming Houses for outdoor winter dining and permanent sidewalk café seating allowed restaurants to keep their kitchens going while the DDA’ s Window Shopping Workshop trained storekeepers on how to look at their storefront with fresh eyes and tips for displaying merchandise better,Ashby said.

While chambers of commerce across the U.S. were frantically transitioning to alternative ways to support their members —i.e. virtual events —the Windsor Chamber of Commerce stayed the course and ended up growing its membership despite the challenges. “We never changed the way we promote business. If business had to go to their business,so do we— remote was not an option, ” Michelle Vance, executive director of the chamber said. “I believe since we did that,we have grown over 140 in new membership. ” As with the DDA, the chamber implemented numerous special events, like its shop-local holiday event and Elf Hunt, to connect businesses with customers. “We have started a Women of Windsor networking group and we have hosted a WOW Goes RED Luncheon in February and we just hosted a WOW Fashion Happy Hour event on April 28. We had over 130 participants and featured our local boutique, ” Vance explained. The chamber started hosting all events, such as grand openings, as inperson functions in June,Vance said.

The town is planning a Wine Walk, golf tournaments and other events to continue the upward moment as well as the new River Walk and sports center that will bring visitors to the area.

According to Ashby,the town is also continuing to focus on physical projects to welcome crowds back to downtown. The town has demolished a building to make way for additional parking and will be gearing up to complete a “thrulot” pocket plaza in the 400 block of downtown. Later in the year, the town will be kicking off its Wayfinding Signage project,helping people learn more about what downtown Windsor has to offer.

“Between Stacy at the town who is recruiting businesses and companies,all the way to the chamber who is retaining businesses and companies and putting life and activity back in the businesses, we will make it out of this, ”Charpentier said. “We ’ ve been able to hold on and maintain,and now that it’ s coming to an end,we are just ready to let all this stuff loose and make it happen. ”

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