By KENNETH BILLINGS
Staff Reporter
As local business owners prepare for the upcoming trial of accused triple murderer Edgar Ray Killen, expectations about the possible impact are mixed.
Several around the square are expecting the influx of media and visitors to provide a boost for business while others feel limited parking and other factors will have a negative effect.
“I think everybody is preparing for a large crowd,” said Larry Winstead, manager of Peggy’s, a popular local eatery on Bay Street. “We are making preparations for a lot of people to be in town. I am going to cook extra for those weeks but I can feed what I can feed and that’s it.”
Most agree lack of parking will be a major issue especially with street closings and one lane traffic on Main and Beacon streets.
Mike Savell, owner of City Jewelry, is bracing himself for slow sales and few customers until the trial is over largely because he feels many will want to avoid the downtown area during the trial.
“It is going to be hard for customers to get here,” Savell said. “I am expecting it to hurt business very bad. People are not going to want to come downtown because of the traffic and with all the publicity.”
Tammy Lee, who owns the Clothes Line on the west side of the square on Byrd Avenue, said she is keeping a positive outlook about the trial’s impact on her business.
“We are just being positive,” Lee said. “I don’t see there will be a problem. I think customers will come in as well as people from out of town dropping in to browse.”
Chuxter’s Guitar’s owner Chuck Ethredge said lack of parking will be a burden for his customers and students but he will do his best to turn a negative into a positive.
“I am concerned about the parking issues for my customers and my students, but we will just have to do the best we can,” Ethredge said. “I am going to take full advantage of all the people coming in and try to make the best of things. There is going to be a lot of people from out of town and I want to get all the exposure I can.”
