I am new to Citizen Wausau, but I have been working downtown for almost ten years. Currently I am one of the owners of Malarkey’s Pub. I am looking over the 400 block everyday.
Except during events, most of the time there is no one on the square; if it’s really nice outside, maybe a handful of people. I think this is due to the lack of definition on the square. People don’t like to sit in the middle of an open space. Having walls, flower boxes, trees, shade or whatever would help divide up the square into spaces people may feel more comfortable.
I think next year we should try putting the stage on the north side of the block. Eventually it would be nice to see some streets close down (and buses re-routed). I think having the stage on the north side may help a business to move into the old Little Italy building (I looked at that space for Malarkey’s, and one of the reasons we did not go with it was because I felt that space was “behind all the action”).
If the stage were moved to the North side I would like to eventually see an environment where 3rd, 4th, and Jefferson Streets could be used to let businesses supply tables and chairs to cater to customers, like they do in Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison, other cities, and all over the world. This of course would require the city to loosen its prohibition laws. They some how get this to work in other communities, couldn’t we at least try?
Imagine if you could come down to the square just like you do now, but you also had the choice to grab a stage view table outside at the Mint, Malarkey’s, Yao’s, Erberts, and other places? After the shows on the square you could enjoy the evening till 10 (or some other designated time all the tables have to be cleared) then go check out local nightlife at The Intermission, Malarkey’s, The Fillmor, the Red Eye, or The City Grill. Eventually, the downtown retail shops could get together and stay open later or restaurants could serve past 8 or 9. We could have events on Thursdays, too, since so many people take Fridays off. And how about a weekend music concert or two? (I’m in it to win it!)
When I travel to other cities the downtown areas are teaming with activity on hot summer nights. In Wausau, Wednesdays do all right, but other than that, it’s a ghost town at times.
I realize that is a pipe dream at the moment, but all this momentum for downtown retail and nightlife could stem from the events that are already held downtown. It’s important to keep them there. Please don’t move them.
I believe all this discussion could really be helped out by asking a simple question: What is the downtown for?
If it is for the people of Wausau, then one could argue it’s doing a decent (although the square is not too pretty) job the way it is.
But if its goal is to help continue to make Wausau more of a destination-style city, we are on a good path, but we have a way to go. The square is a step in the right direction, but I would like to see it expand in a way that could let local business cater to the growing crowds, generating an energy that would make people want to spends more time downtown and in Wausau.
