IMPACT/ Cafe thrives, goes wireless, others suffer

IMPACT/ Cafe thrives, goes wireless, others suffer

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The Coffee Bean went wireless and thrived off the lunch traffic during the Edgar Ray Killen murder trial. But some downtown businesses suffered. It depends on whom you ask.

Many establishments felt the effects, one way or the other, of an influx of roughly 200 media personnel in addition to other visitors that packed the courtroom daily.

“It’s definitely had a big impact on our local business,” said Candace McKay, vice president of the Community Development Partnership. “I would think the impact would probably have been negative for them for traffic reasons.”

The barricade on Byrd Avenue between Main Street and Beacon Street became particularly problematic for four businesses across the street from Neshoba County Courthouse.

Lee’s Factory Outlet, River of Life Christian Bookstore, The Clothes Line and Super 10 all reported having relatively little business during the days of the trial. One store didn’t even open for three days.

“There’s just no business coming in,” Lee’s manager Janice Harmon said. “When you block off traffic, nobody can come down through here. When people walk by, they want easy access.”

But while business on the west side of the courthouse saw a decline in customers, Steve’s on the Square, which sits to its east, felt no negative effects.

“We had been concerned that the trial would hurt Father’s Day business,” owner Steve Wilkerson said. “But it was just our normal, local Father’s Day traffic.”

Clara Sims, co-owner of the Beacon Street Antique Mall, located down from the courthouse, said she saw a decline in sales. Sims said that out-of-towners usually make the majority of the purchases, but during the trial, limited parking caused a business decrease and the store’s unscheduled closing for one day.

Several businesses, mostly offices, posted signs saying “No public restrooms.”

Motels and restaurants were another story.

The Coffee Bean cafe installed a wireless Internet connection and extended it hours in hopes of a dramatic increase in business.

Owner Susan Hammendorp said she hired two employees and put others on call to help serve extra meals during the extended hours the cafe stayed open.

Even before the trial began, Hammendorp said she fielded requests for reserved tables and for catering at the media center on Walnut Street.

The weeks of trial coverage proved to be a lucrative period for those providing lodging.

Days Inn manager Brem Champ reported to have had about a dozen media members staying at his motel along with a few people who simply wanted to follow the trial.

“We are very busy,” he said. “Every day, my motel is booked.”

Even Super Inn and Suites, located about six miles west of the courthouse, saw several new faces from the media, manager Linda Bozeman said.






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