The MCLA Beacon 2/4/10 Story 1

Alcombright, Grant Discuss Local Business
By Andrew Roiter
Senior News Editor

Cup and Saucer, The Alley and Moulton’s General Store are the most recent victims of the largest economic contraction since the 1930s. Newly instated North Adams Mayor Dick Alcombright and MCLA President Mary Grant have their own ideas on how to help North Adams businesses, and they mostly involve the 990 resident MCLA students.

“I think MCLA and the MCLA students are very important to the Northern Berkshire community. ... The more students are out and about the more the local businesses will say ‘Wow, that’s a pretty big customer base!’” said Grant.

Alcombright has similar beliefs. “The students are residents [of North Adams]. We’ve got to say, ‘How do we service that group?’”

Both Grant and Alcombright have ideas on how to get MCLA students to utilize the local businesses. Alcombright said that the city is putting together a new Merchant’s Group, a rebirth of the old Downtown Group that will include all North Adams businesses. The group will meet to discuss how to increase business foot traffic. “I think what we have to do at some level is make the stores more appealing to students,” Alcombright said. “The movie theater should also be showing more independent and diverse films.”

Sophomore Aaron Crawford said, “Businesses should incorporate the meal plan [to get more business].” Grant has said that her administration is actively working on a plan for declining balance to work with the local businesses. They are currently considering several options. Art is considered to be one of the biggest aspects of North Adams culture. Mass MoCA, for instance, is the largest museum of Modern art in New England. And for some students it’s the only reason they go into town.

“I only go downtown about once a month. And Mass MoCA is pretty much the only place I go,” said senior Teisha Twomey. “I think they’ve got the right idea with their free-for-all day. Students usually don’t have a lot of money.” But the responsibility isn’t only on the businesses to attract more students. “Part of it is getting out there and finding out what’s in [your] own backyard,” Grant said. She mentioned that there are many businesses that she loves in North Adams that are a little tricky to find, but are perfect for college students.

Alcombright summed up what he wants to change in North Adams in a few words: “I’ve met with people who graduated, and the one thing they remember best is Jack’s Hot Dog Stand. We need to offer more of a memory than Jack’s ... though it’s a wonderful memory.”