Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Riders roll into region
Bikes, Blues, & BBQ not profitable for all, some shopowners say
FAYETTEVILLE — Some businesses in this college town have closed for the rest of the week because of the annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ motorcycle festival, which began Wednesday and will continue through Saturday.
While bars, motels and campgrounds are busy during the festival, the bikers don’t frequent bookshops and upscale restaurants, said Lisa Sharp, owner of Nightbird Books on Dickson Street.
“Almost any small local business that’s not selling a bunch of beer is not happy this week,” said Sharp, who closed her store for the festival. “This will be my ninth Bikes, Blues & BBQ. I have tried everything I could think of. I’ve bought things especially for the rally — motorcycle calendars and Hunter S. Thompson novels. I’ve set tents up outside. I never sold anything.”
The festival is centered in Fayetteville’s entertainment district along Dickson Street. Some proceeds from the event go to charity — more than $600,000 over the history of the festival, according to a letter Joe Giles, executive director of the event, posted on its website, bikesbluesandbbq.org.
Promoters say the festival brings in hundreds of thousands of bikers. Former promoters say that number is exaggerated, however.
Sharp thinks the festival is an odd fit for a liberal college town that probably has more bicycles than motorcycles.
She said people who attend the festival aren’t going to upscale restaurants because they prefer barbecue and funnel cakes sold by vendors who set up trucks in parking lots along Dickson Street.
At Little Bread Co., a bakery on Block Avenue, a barista said bikers wander in during the festival and ask for donuts. They sell croissants
and biscotti at Little Bread, but no donuts. That bakery is closed today for a catering event but will be open the rest of the week.
Vince Pianalto, co-owner of a French bakery/cafe on the downtown square, decided to close this week. Pianalto said business at Bouchee was down between 60 percent and 80 percent during last year’s event when compared with other weekends in September.
Pianalto said he’s a fan of the festival, but logistics make it more practical to close for a few days.
“Our stuff is just so perishable,” he said. “Our regulars, some of them leave town to get away from it. Others just don’t get out of the house. We just decided it would be less costly for us to close.”
Pianalto said the bikers aren’t looking for croissants.
“It’s not our crowd,” he said. “I don’t want to sound elitist, but our restaurant isn’t for everybody. They’re looking for barbecue.”
Angelo Amabile, co-owner of Vetro 1925 Ristorante, said sales there drop by about 50 percent because of the festival, so they decided to close until next week. Amabile said his customers don’t want to fight the motorcycle traffic and may have trouble finding a place to park.
While Vetro 1925 is closed, the employees have an unpaid week off work, Amabile said.
“This is the only week during the entire year when it’s just a horrible scenario to be open,” he said.
Amabile added it’s “a slap in the face” the city has allowed the festival to continue.
Bill Underwood has “fussed” with festival promoters in the past but now he supports the event. He said promoters are more cooperative now and don’t block access for his customers at Underwood Jewelers on Dickson Street.
“It probably would be better for our business if they didn’t have it, but because it brings in so much for our charities, I support it,” Underwood said. “If it hurts business a little bit, we try to make it up the rest of the year.”
Joe Fennel owner of Bordino’s and Jose’s Streetside, both on Dickson Street, said he makes money during the festival.
While business is a little down at his upscale Bordino’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, the outdoors Streetside bar is packed with a band playing every night of the festival, Fennel said.
“I’d say at Jose’s Streetside, it’s equivalent to a couple of football games’ worth of traffic each day over a four-day period,” said Fennel, referring to Arkansas Razorbacks football games.
At Bordino’s, Fennel has changed the menu this week, adding barbecue sandwiches and watermelon Jello shots, in addition to other flavors. It’s his way of adapting.
Fennel is president of the Dickson Street Merchants Association, which has 39 members.
“Some people benefit more than others from the festival, but if it’s good for the street, it’s good for the street,” Fennel said. “Some people need to just adapt and make it as good as we can.”
Fennel said the city reaps more revenue from sales taxes because of the festival, but such things are difficult to measure. Sales-tax revenue is reported on a monthly basis, and September sales can be greatly affected by the number of Razorbacks football games played in Fayetteville.
While hotels and motels fill up fast for the festival, there were still a few rooms available Wednesday at The Chancellor Hotel in downtown Fayetteville. Those rooms range from $229 to $329 a night, and a three-night minimum stay is required.
“Some people don’t want it for three nights, so that does scare some people away,” a front desk clerk said.