Summer Concert Series Boosts Downtown Warren
WARREN, Ohio -- Promoters of the River Rock at the Amp summer concert series say they are looking for ways to bring more downtown businesses into the act.
Ken Haidaris and Marty Cohen of Sunrise Entertainment, who four years ago took over the concert series from the late Walt English, announced the lineup at the site of the series, the Warren Community Amphitheater. The series of 11 concerts kicks off May 25 with the Led Zeppelin tribute band ZOSO and concludes Aug. 24 with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes.
“I just saw [Southside Johnny] up at the House of Blues. He was truly phenomenal,” Haidaris said.
“What’s happened these four years is it’s been a greater challenge for us to keep up our mojo, to keep the acts fresh, to keep it solid and make sure that we’re constantly upping our ante,” Cohen said.
Although they declined to provide a specific budget for the concert series, many of the acts are in “four figures,” Haidaris said.
Both Sunrise Entertainment partners also operate downtown businesses. Haidaris co-owns the Sunrise Inn and Cohen has Mickey’s Army-Navy.
“It’s brought people downtown,” Haidaris said. “We’re trying to get the merchants more involved so that more people come downtown earlier and stay later.” He acknowledges the impact the Saturday night concert series has on his business.
“We want to do some sidewalk sales with the merchants,” he said. He is working with downtown restaurants on an “Eat and Amp” program through which they would offer a free dessert or appetizer for patrons who show their tickets.
The concert series is a definite benefit for the Mocha House, though not a huge one, said co-owner Bill Axiotis. “If we had a liquor license we would benefit a more but it’s definitely an asset to the community,” he said. People who come downtown for the concerts from different parts of the area drive by who wouldn’t ordinarily see the Mocha House. “So it does have a great effect,” he remarked.
Another downtown merchant who was on hand at the news conference, 4th Ward Councilman Greg Bartholomew, says his shop benefits from the concert series. The concert series serves as a marketing tool for his All-American Comics and Cards shop, which marks 20 years in business this May. Bartholomew keeps his store open on concert nights.
“The amount of foot traffic we get on Saturday starting around 4, 4:30 [p.m.] when the open the gates at 5 is tremendous,” he said. Concerts can attract as many as 6,000 people, he noted.
“This draws a diverse enough crowd that somebody might come by with their kids,” Bartholomew said. “”Even if we get three or four people to come in and at least walk around, they know we’re down here.”
Cohen said the benefit to his business is indirect. “I’m very happy with the exposure that we’ve gotten,” he said.
During the news conference, the promoters announced that tickets now can be purchased through a new website. In addition to the concert series, Sunrise Entertainment is partnering with the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County to offer free musical entertainment Thursday evenings and free movies Friday evenings as part of the Friday Night Flicks series.
As impressive as attendance is for the concerts, many people in the area don’t know the series exists, said Y-103 FM radio personality John Batcho, known as “Mr. Sports” on the air.
“It’s our responsibility though work of mouth and radio station advertising and such to get the word out and let people know how great of a facility it is and get new blood in here,” he said.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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