CASH MOB THURSDAYS: Businesses hope to prosper during road work
Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President Bud Nocera is trying his hardest to help all Beach businesses directly impacted by road work along Estero Boulevard.
Nocera’s latest idea -while no dancing is involved- originates from a Flash Mob theme of sorts in getting people to gather at close-by businesses to support one or all financially. “Cash Mob Thursdays” hope to attract business to assigned businesses each Thursday between 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning Sept. 17.
Nocera has kept in touch with Beach businesses in the downtown zoning district area. Owners and employees have reported losses in business revenue due to road construction happening in front of their entrances. He is calling on Beach residents and visitors, who have a combined storied past of helping individuals in need with planned fundraisers, to do a similar gesture for local boulevard businesses in the construction zone.
“We have a long history of really helping people out, and these businesses ‘behind the construction barricades’ can really use the help,” Nocera said. “We want to get the word out to everybody to visit a business, bring friends and have a drink or buy lunch or do some early Christmas shopping.”
The proposed schedule of events can be viewed below. Lehne Burger, Yo! Taco, Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel and Island View at Lani Kai kick off the Thursday events on Sept. 17.
“The trick is to have it catch on and have people embrace it,” said Nocera, who hopes to continue the events, if successful, past the Nov. 19 date.
Nocera visited each of the potential Cash Mob Thursday participating businesses on Friday. Along with Paradise Advertising & Design, the chamber expects to disseminate flyers during the events and have sandwich boards on site in front of the businesses each Thursday to promote the concept.
No specials are being offered with each event, unless individual businesses decide to do so. If nothing else, it’s a reason to meet new people, catch up with old friends and support businesses that are suffering through the hardships related to road construction.
“The businesses in the construction zone really could use a boost in customer numbers,” Nocera said. “We are asking islanders to get two friends together and stop by on a Thursday and buy lunch or dinner, or a trinket or a t-shirt if it is a retail store. We are just asking people who live and work on the beach to come and support these businesses at a time when they very much need it.”