For The Vault restaurant, the Hollister Independence Rally is
more than a good time. It’s worth about 1-1/2 months of business in
just three days, according to owner Ignacio Velazquez.
For The Vault restaurant, the Hollister Independence Rally is more than a good time. It’s worth about 1-1/2 months of business in just three days, according to owner Ignacio Velazquez.
On Saturday night, block-long lines of people waited to enter until about 10 p.m. when the restaurant closed its doors for the night because “we couldn’t go any further and nobody wanted to leave,” Velazquez said.
Among downtown businesses, bars, restaurants and lodging attract the biggest boosts in customers for the annual three-day weekend event. And some, according to Velazquez, rely on the rally weekend to stay in business.
“It was a great weekend, much better than last year,” he said.
That’s the sentiment from several businesses and organizations that reaped benefits – including the Hollister Independence Rally Committee – from this year’s record turnout.
HIRC has organized the event since 1997 and each year the nonprofit organization donates proceeds to other nonprofits in the county. In 2002, HIRC donated more $25,000 – along with another $12,000 jointly donated by HIRC and the Hollister Rotary Club.
While HIRC officials said attendance broke the previous record – substantially more than last year’s 100,000 visitors – revenue figures will not be determined until later this week. HIRC’s revenues are generated from sponsorships, vendor fees, beverage sales, T-shirt sales, photo tower fees, merchandise and other activities.
The City of Hollister also benefits financially each year. The city receives about $60,000 to $65,000 in sales tax revenue, about $45,000 from added business license fees and more throughout the year from rally-related tourism, according to Finance Director Barbara Mulholland.
Even with the phenomenal downtown foot traffic, several businesses on Monday expressed mixed reviews about the rally.
“There are some stores that love it. There are some stores that hate it. And some go on vacation for the weekend,” said HDA Director Liz Kresky.
Paine’s restaurant manager John Kouretas said he “could go either way” about Hollister hosting the rally. The enjoyment of the event, he said, doesn’t necessarily make up for the hassles it creates. The restaurant’s income for the weekend is “a little better than normal,” he said. But Kouretas said parking and added security were added complications.
Kelly Owczarzak, owner of Kelly’s Gift Place, said “business was OK,” but hoped more stores remain open during future rallies.
“It’s really hard to compete with all the vendors out there,” she said. “What can we do as retailers here in our own hometown? What can we do to have that niche for us (businesses)?”
Most of the 140 vendors were packed up and out of town by Sunday night. Good Sports, an apparel company that ran a tent on the corner of Seventh and San Benito streets, stayed Monday and sold its remaining clothes at a discount. The manager, who withheld his name, said business was “pretty much the same” as 2002.
Good Sports has sold commemorative clothes at the rally since 1997, he said.
Cleanup for HIRC and the city occurred throughout the weekend. Early on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings, city street sweepers tidied downtown roadways and a HIRC-hired garbage collection crew, Pablo’s Hauling, kept busy emptying refuse containers and 20-plus additional receptacles. Beals said a “record amount of garbage” was collected.
“These guys busted butt,” Beals said. “They worked like crazy.”
The final cleaning began Sunday night and early Monday HIRC’s crews picked up scattered debris and will administer “high pressure” window cleaning through today.
City Manager Dale Shaddox said he was “truly amazed” at the cleanliness of downtown while driving to work Monday morning.
“And I compliment for that effort,” he said.
Once this year’s figures are totaled, HIRC will turn its attention to planning the 2004 rally, Beals said. Vendors have until the end of July to guarantee spots for next year at the 2003 price. Vendor fees from 2002-03, according to Beals, jumped by 10 percent.
“We’ve got to roll on,” Beals said. “It’s going to be here before we know it.”
