Downtown Moncton Businesses Anticipate High Foot Traffic From Weekend Auto Show
MONCTON – The near-unanimous opinion among downtown businesses is excitement as the Atlantic Nationals Automotive Extravaganza rolls into the city’s downtown core.
The city plans to close several thoroughfares to accommodate the July 6-10 car show after its return from a three-year pandemic hiatus.
On the weekend, the event will require the closure of routes along and adjacent to Main Street, including one roughly from just past Robinson Street to the intersection of Downing and Assomption Boulevard closed from Friday to Saturday, and a route that includes Main from Downing Street to Mechanic Street closed from Thursday to Saturday.
Huddle spoke to several businesses on those routes and none had a negative thing to say about the car show pulling vehicular traffic from those streets for the weekend.
Todd VanIderstine is the general manager of the Old Triangle Irish Alehouse – a bar on Main Street, with a front door opening directly onto Saturday’s closed route.
VanIderstine said the traffic closures associated with the car show always have a very positive effect for the businesses because they increase pedestrian traffic.
“The Atlantic Nationals is one of our busiest days of the year. It just increases how many customers we see – obviously, weather dependent – but either way, it increases foot traffic near us,” he said.
“People just tend to pop in for a bite to eat or a quick drink while waiting for something.”
VanIderstine said the Old Triangle is ideally situated for guests during a big event like the Atlantic Nationals, being “a relaxed, kind of warm atmosphere.”
“It’s a good place to just hang around and have a good day and not stress about anything,” he added.
Tommy Lee, owner of Fusion Express, which is near the beginning of the route to be closed on Saturday, agreed.
“It brings more customers and it diversifies our clientele and draws more people from everywhere else,” he said. “We love it.”
David Shin, whose Café C’est La Vie sits on Main, said he’s hoping for good weather and a good customer turnout. But he noted that the Atlantic Nationals should have better promoted the event.
“The last time they had this was in 2019. Hopefully there are a lot of people coming tomorrow. Rain is forecasted, so I don’t know how busy it will be, but I would like for it to be busy, with more people coming around lunchtime tomorrow,” Shin said.
At Cora’s Breakfast and Lunch on Main, manager Mike Patel said he is also hopeful for a big turnout this weekend.
“We just took over this business in December 2020 and it took a major hit during Covid times,” he said. “We’re seeing how it’s going to go right now, since everything has opened up – this is the first time we’re going to face that situation,” he said.
He noted that the previous owner told him the Atlantic Nationals has always previously brought in a great deal of business.
“When they shut down Main Street in the past, it’s always gotten very busy.”
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].