More retailers in downtown Port Coquitlam got out to boost their businesses during this year's PoCo Grand Prix.
The second annual professional cycling race that closed the core for most of last Friday drew out dozens of merchants promoting their goods and services — and making the most of the additional foot traffic.
That was the aim, said Susanna Walden, executive director of the Downtown PoCo Business Improvement Association (BIA), who spent a good part of this year helping property owners take advantage of the attraction.
She singled out Me-n-Ed's, which had a vendor booth in Leigh Square Community Arts Village, and 4Cats Arts Studio, which had a spin-the-wheel that offered prizes to participants, as success stories.
"This kind of initiative is terrific to see," Walden told The Tri-City News Monday. "And although there is no question the event impacts the businesses, there appears to be an overall understanding of the value an event of this magnitude brings to Port Coquitlam."
"The event brings people in from outside the Tri-Cities and provides an opportunity to showcase downtown PoCo," she added.
Last year's inaugural competition drew some criticism from area retailers.
As a result, PoCo Grand Prix and the BIA organized two open houses for business owners to show how they could capitalize on the event. As well, the race schedule was pushed to a later time to better accommodate customers; road closures also started later.
"We felt the city adopted recommendations we made as best they could," Walden said. "They provided increased communication and opportunities for the businesses to bring forward concerns, street closures were staggered and later into the day, which was very helpful, the set-up and the tear-down was extremely efficient.
"It's a massive undertaking and the city staff and volunteers did an amazing job of puling it all together. They learned a lot from the first year," she said.
The hot weather didn't deter the crowds, said PoCo Grand Prix spokesperson Pardeep Purewal, with 2,500 more people than last year.
Some 7,500 visitors cheered on more than 660 riders in nine races, including the corporate challenge, the kids' loops and the youth contest; the Giggle Dam also programmed the Leigh Square bandshell with music while Norco offered kids' activities and Cap's Westwood Cycle chipped in with free valet bike parking.
Nearly 250 volunteers — many returning from last year — also assisted.
PoCo Grand Prix had $77,000 to spend and, though the numbers are still being tallied, it's expected the event will come in within budget, Purewal said.
Next year's race is set for Friday, July 13.
