For the past five years, many locals and visitors enjoyed Kent’s downtown outdoor seating space on the closed-off Franklin Avenue, but proposed changes may alter the setting this summer.
Local businesses found out this week, in part from social media posts, the street may not be closing down this summer.
According to city officials, Main Street Kent approached them on behalf of a dozen businesses who reported a drop in their sales this time of year when Franklin Avenue closes. The non-profit organization asked if Kent City Council would consider their business needs and not close the street this summer.
Erie Street Kitchen’s chef and owner, Jeff Crowe, found out the city wasn’t planning to close the street from a city maintenance worker.
“What’s going on this year is some of the merchants have been complaining that their sales drop off the weekend that they shut down the street and through the summer,” Crowe said.
He also mentioned the rhythmic timing of their reported sales falling when Kent State students head home for the summer.
“Coincidentally, 25,000 to 30,000 students, faculty and staff at Kent State go home that same weekend because it’s graduation weekend,” Crowe said. “We all face that battle with Kent State.”
Crowe said a point of contention is the exclusion of some participating businesses in the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area district, including those operating on Franklin Avenue, in the survey conducted by Main Street Kent with a handful of local spots.
“But, you know, we’re always included when they need something,” Crowe said. “To not be included in the conversation is why I got fired up about it.”
Many locals heard about the debate from Taco Tontos’ series of social media posts. The owner, Kevin Yohn, said, “Ninety-nine percent of our community, including city council members, had no idea this was even on the table until I found out and made multiple posts on our social media pages on Monday.”
In their restaurant, a petition of signatures is pages long in support of closing the street down in the summer.
“I’ve had people come in, literally just come in and sign it and walk out,” said Anne Dargenio, a manager at Taco Tontos. “So it seems like the word is spreading and it seems like people are really passionate about it.”
Next door on Franklin Avenue, Ray’s Place is a popular Kent bar and restaurant. Owner Charlie Thomas said the Franklin Avenue discussion turned into a community affair.
“I think everybody’s got to understand. We’re not all competing,” Thomas said. “We’re just all here to draw people in and have an atmosphere that’s really conducive to the city and community and everything.”
But Crowe thinks the city will continue to hear “a lot of people screaming” if they choose to keep the street open.
City council will discuss whether to change the use of Franklin Avenue or not during the Kent Council Committee meeting May 7. The meeting will be held in the newly constructed City Hall Council Chambers located at 319 S. Water St.
Sydney Brown is a Kent Stater TV Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
