Contest to let public choose next downtown business
The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Lauray’s — The Diamond Center, on Wednesday announced a contest to let the public choose the next downtown business and contribute to COVID-19 relief efforts at the same time.
“Will You Be My Neighbor” is asking entrepreneurs to submit their best business ideas for an open storefront at 406 Central Ave. to http://www.willyoubemyneighbordowntown.com through May 1.
The field will be narrowed to five finalists and from May 5 to May 15 the public, which includes Hot Springs and Garland County residents as well as visitors, will be able to vote for their favorite idea on the website. Each vote will cost $1, and the public may vote as many times as they would like.
All proceeds will be donated to the SupportSpaCity.com match fund that is providing grocery assistance to people in Garland County who have experienced a loss or reduction of employment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“When the space two doors down from Lauray’s at 406 Central Ave. became available a few weeks ago, I immediately jumped on it,” Toddy Pitard, owner of Lauray’s, 402 Central Ave., said in the release.
“I called (chamber president and CEO) Gary Troutman at The Chamber. He and Cole McCaskill (the chamber’s vice president of economic development) came down to look at the space to talk about different ideas of what could go in here. After visiting for a bit, we decided it would be a great idea to let the public choose what they wanted,” Pitard said.
“We want to hear what the public wants downtown,” he said.
“After May 1, we will vet all the submissions and release the top five finalists to the public.”
“To make things just a little more interesting,” the release said,
Lauray’s will be giving away a $1,000 shopping spree. The winner will be randomly selected from all of the votes that are cast for the winning business idea.
The winning business idea and the winner of the $1,000 Lauray’s shopping spree will be announced on Facebook Live on May 18.
“We at the Chamber applaud Toddy for his innovative ideas and appreciate him letting us work together to try to make this a fun and exciting thing for anyone who chooses to participate,” Troutman said in the release.
“With the two movies about Mr. Rogers having been released recently, the ‘neighbor’ angle seemed like a natural concept to build around for this unique opportunity.
“And, aside from the contest, this is a tremendous retail location in the heart of downtown on one of the ‘Top 10 Streets in America’ as recognized a few years ago by the American Planning Association,” he said.