Ideas for downtown Port Huron pour in!

Kathy Zimmer

I suggest that Downtown Port Huron stores, have some set hours. Possibley, during the holidays, to have extended hours.
As it stands, stores are open on a whim it seems.
To me it is just plain common sense, that set hours, that customers can count on, rain or shine, busy or not. Is a big boost to attract business downtown.

Nancy Meharg

I was born and raised in Port Huron and love the area, however have not lived there in a long time.  I do visit every summer to see family.  My suggestion for downtown Port Huron would be outside cafes during the summer.  People are inside all winter and it seems to me these outside cafes would be welcomed.
I wish you all the best of luck in deciding what is best for the city.

Joanne Rumford

Open a dollar store similar to the one by CVS on Pine Grove.  One that has coolers for those living downtown can shop for a last minute item or someone passing through.

Not enough emphasis is on those travelers be it seasonal, or everyday drivers and public transportation riders that keep people downtown for longer than just eating at a diner or going to pay a parking ticket.

There definitely needs to be a grocery store somewhere in the downtown area.

A lot of residents living in public housing or in houses with apartments don’t have a car or depend on others to take them shopping or doctor appointments.  They are the mainstays of Port Huron.  The ones that give the bread and butter and don’t have the services close by to accommodate both the city and it’s downtown.

The City of Port Huron does need to be “trendy” as a Times Herald guest reporter on travels Alice O’Neil said at one city council meeting.  I think the start of that is Studio 1219 and Captain Jim’s Gallery.

Why does the music have to be all rock and roll or comedy in some pubs.  We need a Karaoke bar.  This is something that has been around for a long while but is catching on more so with the over 50 age groups.  Maybe one day American Idol can make it to our small town or a karaoke singer will make it to American Idol.  Let’s get “trendy” as Alice said and invite, inspire and create what Acheson has been doing with the Waterfront.

We need to live up to the “Cool City” image.  But we need more than factory jobs in Port Huron.  It’s a hard battle but this website feedback is a start.  And perhaps our ideas here can have an influence on city council members that can work it out and negotiate with St. Clair County officials and their townships and cities and give a boost to residents in Port Huron that positives are more in tune with keeping our economy from floating down the river.

Joanne Rumford
March 28, 2008
Port Huron
SC4 2002 and 2004 graduate

sunflower

I would like to see downtown Port Huron be turned into a miniture frankenmuth.We have large enough building that can be joined together for a indoor water park.We need secialy shops and also restraunts need to cook foods from other countries.Port Huron has parks and the lakes we need a place that all ages can enjoy.Lets just get creative add some style and kick it up a notch.

Patricia A. Jubb

With all the discussion of college housing, education, and a need for change in classroom learning, has anyone considered a college town, run by college students.  The student’s of SC4, and other colleges in our community, pursuing a degree in, say, Business Restaurant & Management, Construction, Retail, etc, (any of the degrees), could actually get hands on experience by taking a business and working from the ground up.  The students would not only have class room experience but actual hands on.  T

Port Huron would be he only city that has students running & operating the businesses, attracting more students & creating new ideas.  Their families & relatives would be more motivated to frequent the downtown area, to support their students and their efforts.  The downtown housing, (renovated by the students) would increase, since students would be attracted to a college, that offers both classroom and hands on experience.  When a student in our community graduates, they will have field experience as well as their degree.

Just my thoughts!

terry nolan — http://www.irishrsoetravel.com

my business has been here for 10 years. for the first 4 years i worked by myself , advertised & was open on thurs. & fri. nites, sundays, all holidays except chrsitmas, easter & thanksgiving. for 8 of the ten years i was open sundays. if you are Irish or not, there has always been nice articles in my store to purchase, including christening & first communion apparel & gifts. mens & ladies coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, summer shirts & many many items that did not include a shamrock. i was open & participated & monitarily sponsored many events. you need to ask yourselves, when was the last time you purchased anything from my store or even was in my store. many of the people involved with the community foundation, the downtown authority board & city big shots have never purchased a thing in my store. so, now i am supposed to be excited that the now want to tell me what i should be doing? oh yea, lets not forget about the tea shop & bakery that myself & my husband ventured out every morning to go to canada to pick up fresh bread & provide it in a downtown atmosphere. don’t give me the excuse, that your not Irish, as I said, we have always had plenty of very nice non-shamrock items that I spent alot of money advertising. again, ask yourself, how many charity events have you attended & saw articles from my store that were donted to local causes.
plenty!!!!!!!!  please share these very honest comments with as many people as you wish. Terry Nolan, Irish Rose Gifts & Travel 3/29/08

Donna Drake

Great ideas--but until downtown has a large majoir retailer the people who live in Port Huron will not come down during the day such as Sat. Sun--Wyh not a Lands End or Eddie Braur outlet ?? Then other retailers woiuld flock to downtown, all the other ideas would benefit from the shoppers.

LeeAnne McInnis

I remember seeing Chalevoix for the first time in the summer when the street that runs through town for several blocks were all planted with impaitients. I also remember my trips to England and France---how the villages’ shops were overflowing with flowers in windowboxes, around doors, and in every spare piece of ground. There was very little litter. This kind of pride in the exterior of building and the grounds surrounding our buildings indicates to visitors that people care about their community and welcome others.

A community effort aimed at raising money to buy flowers, window boxes, and spiff up our town would be a huge step in the right direction. It would bring awareness most of all the property owners and community members alike. I imagine that their would have to be some prizes awarded for best window boxes, best volunteers, most improved, etc. Prizes would need to be attractive enough to motivate.

LeeAnne McInnis

Begin a consortium of sorts made up of area businesses: restaraunts, financial institues, service industries, community organizations, etc. and call it “Support Local First.” The point would be to raise awareness about the value of shopping and doing business with local merchants and business people...as well as buying locally grown food and locally produced merchandise and products. It might be a peaceful revolution against buying inferior imports.

It would remind consummers of the value of keeping money in our community, helping each other in this way benefits all who live in an area.

Jeff Wine — http://joannwine.com

We are the ‘Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes’ ...how about a ‘Captain Maritime’ to hand out flyers for promotions, coupons or act as the ‘Town Concierge’ at events.  When there is a crowd at McMorran there could be someone directing people to resturants, other events, available for instructions.  When we have people downtown, what else can we do with them?  What other spending opportunities are there?  If ‘Captain Maritime’ the town ‘cierge’ can’t direct them, then upscale signage on the southside of McMorran Blvd., possibly electronic or television type that can be changed quickly.  Not suggesting this be a public expenditure, but something downtown property and business owners or business associations pay for.

Generally, better coordination and planning.  I am not so sure how well ads in programs sold at McMorran work...how many are sold?

Thank you for your efforts.  Great to see how many people contributed.Jeff Wine

Lenae May — http://www.windlewood.com

So many wonderful and consistent ideas! You all speak of other favorite OR successful places and yet this beautiful city has even more to offer!

It seems that a collective effort with a STRONG vision is needed. The places mentioned will not come to a city without a solid vision!

Example: Notice that even the Burger King on Range Rd. sold when they SAW something happening out there. It appears to be a vision and when the right people SEE it, they get on board. I am a business waiting to open somewhere on the street. I want a historical and tourist setting. I hope it would be Port Huron.
I am waiting to SEE a vision that is moving forward. I have another city in mind that is already doing it BUT I see a Port Huron that is amazing! And it can be!!
So many of the ideas are very workable and with the Foundation priorities of Economic Development, Education and Arts and Culture...this is the foundational requirements of a truly solid vision!
Lenae May