Business & Tech

STATE FAIR: Businesses Brace for Crowds

Nearly 400,000 visitors to the Timonium Fairgrounds can be a blessing and a curse for area stores.

The 11 days of the Maryland State Fair that kicks off today have been a mixed blessing in the past for businesses near Timonium's fairgrounds.

The influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors exposes local businesses to new customers, but their loyal regulars often stay home until the fair fades.

"It certainly brings people into the area who would not usually shop here," said Ken Higgins, who operates the HoneyBaked Ham and Café on York Road, near the fairground's entrance.

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"On the negative side, it tends to be somewhat disruptive to people who ordinarily go shopping," said Higgins. Any drop in sales is negligible, he added, though crowds and bad traffic are sure to cause headaches for customers and local residents.

According to Howard "Max" Mosner Jr., president and general manager of the fair's operations, more than 392,000 men, women and children attended the fair last year. Thousands more participated as vendors, custodians, security guards and administrators.

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Mosner anticipates a similar turnout this year, but he said bad weather, an earlier school year and a lack of interest in horse racing can lower fair attendance. Smaller crowds mean fewer dollars filtering into Timonium's economy, he said.

Local business owners should take full advantage of the impending influx of fairgoers, despite whatever inconveniences they bring with them, said Camila Clark, spokesperson for Maryland Office of Tourism.

"Businesses should put on a happy face, open their doors and provide the level of quality and service that people expect when they come to the area," Clark said.

The benefits far outweigh the costs, she added.

By how much? State and local officials say they are not able to accurately pinpoint the fair's effect on the local economy.

According to Karen Glenn Hood, spokeswoman with Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development, a report on the fair's economic impact was recently attempted. However, non-cooperative fair vendors and a slow response from local businesses prevented that report from becoming a reality, she said.

Fronda Cohen, director of marketing and communications with Baltimore County's Department of Economic Development, said the county lacks any economic impact statistics on the fair. Maryland State Fair administrators agreed. 

According to tax forms of the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society Inc., the private nonprofit that runs the fair, revenues from the fair increased 20 percent from $2.4 million in 2005 to $2.9 million in 2007. Racing revenue fell by the same rate to $1 million in 2007.

Meanwhile, government contributions doubled -- from $600,000 in 2005 to $1.2 million in 2007.  

According to many local businesses, the government money is money well spent. They said the fair contributes to an increase in their sales.  

The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Timonium traditionally services many of the fair's vendors and notable guests, including concert performers and government officials, according to general manager Dave Marsh.

Twenty years ago, all of the hotel's 250 sleeping rooms were booked throughout the fair, said Marsh. But in recent years bookings have been far less favorable.

"We could all use a good turnout this season," he said. 


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