its bingo

Local businesses commend bingo via biking games which made them increase their incomes. People are attracted and bought things because of this innovative style of playing bingo.

Businesses here turn out briskly as jam-packs of people gathered at the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium last Saturday to witness and to join the great events of biking and bingo. The crowd even grew bigger as the events reach the day’s heights before dusk came. The Chamber of Commerce of Great Manchester initiated this exciting activity.

“This kind of event draws attention to West Chester. Our location is phenomenal. This is a big day for us,” said Danielle Fagnani, whose family owns Sprazzo, a coffee shop located at the corner and High and Gay streets. People will see the stores as they walk. It will bring people in at a different time.”

On the counting, a total of 25 businesses participated in the bingo game. This provided the participants and observers with enough supply of items, from food to gaming stuffs, sustaining their energies all through the day. Each bike race pamphlet contained a bingo board, a map of the race route, and a list of the participating businesses which added thrill and excitement on the participants. Each business stamped the card when attendees walked in to browse or buy merchandise. A guest said that getting into the process is like going back to one’s childhood years.

The procedure followed simple instructions. In getting a regular bingo, attendees should buy something and let that business stamped the card to enter a drawing for five $100 prizes. If every space was stamped, the card could be entered into a drawing for one $500 prize. Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant served as the free space for the play their cards.

“I’ve actually had a lot of people buying,” said Lisa Natalizo-Booth — owner of Largo’s, a men’s clothing store on South High Street — who came up with the concept of bicycle bingo. “I think the bingo boards will bring more people into my store who wouldn’t have come otherwise.”

While many businesses benefited with the event, there were few businessman who felt left out. Last year’s race drew complaints from business owners who felt the event closed streets off for too long. Some merchants feel that the event should be moved to Sunday, when many businesses in West Chester are closed anyway.

“The event is great for bars and restaurants, but people have just been getting their cards stamped and not buying anything,” said Debbie Rich, of Mad Platter CDs on West Gay Street. “I’d like to see it get moved to Sunday.”

This was refuted by the organizers of the event since it they believed that it’s impossible to hold it on Sundays.

Mac Nellon , the president of the West Chester Cycling Classic, a branch of the Chamber of Commerce said that “It’s a nighttime event driven by sponsorship that we can’t attract on Sunday. The race also increases the number of people who come to West Chester threefold and provides a lot of free marketing for retailers.”

November/19/2006/Sunday