DOWNTOWN MARKETING SURVEYS TO BE COLLECTED

Old Town Cape representatives and volunteers will pick up marketing surveys from businesses throughout its Main Street area Friday.

The surveys were passed out earlier this month.

"We would greatly appreciate the community's help in answering the questions on the surveys," said Catherine Dunlap-Stock, executive director of Old Town Cape.

The surveys will show what new businesses are needed in the Main Street district and what can be done to make shopping in the downtown area a good experience.

Volunteers have also stopped customers in the Riverfront and Broadway areas, to fill out the survey.

"We're hoping to accumulate at least 400 surveys," said Dunlap-Stock, who is distributing the survey forms, along with the group's intern Robin Seiler, and volunteer Viney Mosley.

The survey results will be compiled in June.

Students surveyed

A group of Southeast Missouri State University students have expressed their views on what is needed to attract students to the downtown area.

The survey of more than 100 students has revealed that about a third of the students were familiar with the downtown area.

When students go downtown it's usually to visit the river front, take a walk or for the nightlife. Students cited some needs as bookstores, variety of shops, with unique items and a quick-food restaurant.

Few students visit the downtown area more than once or twice a month, citing lack of a variety of retail shops and hours of operation.

Another survey will be conducted next month by Main Street market consultant Dale Helmich. He will conduct a door-to-door survey in the Haarig area.

Helmich of the Downtown Professionals Network was in Cape Girardeau earlier to discuss the city's Main Street project.

All the surveys are part of the market analysis that Old Town Cape is working on with consultants provided by the Missouri Main Street Program, said Dunlap-Stock. Once the data are collected, they will be compiled into a report that will be available next fall to businesses in the Old Town district.

Walkers group

Old Town Cape is a non-profit organization made up of volunteers dedicated to revitalizing the city's downtown and central business districts.

Last week Old Town Cape sponsored a Cape RiverWalk and blues concert. About 40 people have signed up to become members of a new club called the Old Town Cape RiverWalkers. The group's headquarters is Grace's Cafe at Themis and Spanish streets. The cafe will keep a log book where members of the club can record their miles.

Weekly music concerts will be presented at 11 a.m. Saturdays along the 200 block of Broadway.

This week's group will be "God Squad," a group of teen-agers from Centenary Methodist Church.