Redlands Classic Presents Big Challenges For Local Business

For the city of Redlands, the annual bicycle classic is a source of pride and a chance to promote the city.

But for the city’s downtown businesses, the event is a mixed blessing.

Every year, 15,000 to 20,000 people descend on the four-day event. Friday’s event was held Banning. A large portion of the crowd Saturday and Sunday is expected to pack the area of Citrus Street and spill into neighboring streets such as State Street.

“There’s definitely more customers,” said Lilly Chen, who with her family runs Famous Betty’s Burgers, located on State Street off of Fifth Street. “But we notice that because there are vendors on the second floor of the parking (structure), a lot of visitors have their meal up there, so we don’t get a dramatic increase.”

Like a number of business owners in the area, Chen agrees the classic is important and supports it. And like the others, Betty’s has made some sacrifices, dealing with an influx of people that pack the sidewalks and parking lots to the point that many of their regular customers are left to decide if they want to walk to struggle to find parking and walk to the eatery or stay away for much of the weekend.

The owners and operators of Martha Green’s Eating and Dough'Lectibles Bakery on Citrus Avenue say they shut down.

“For us, it’s a financial loss,” said J.R. Green, sales manager at the eatery. He definitely likes the classic and the exposure it brings to the city.

Part of the challenge for restaurant is start and finish line, located right in front of the eatery. The spectator bleachers are also placed directly in front of the Eating Room.

“And until they move the line it will be tough,” he said. “People come in buy a cookie, but they really come in to use the bathroom. We really cannot become a public bathroom.”

These large events typically get mixed reviews from the community, said Redlands Mayor Pro-Tem Paul Foster, the City Council's Chamber of Commerce liaison. Some feel passionately in favor, “but that varies.” And in some cases, the have some competition from the vendors set up on the second floor of the Citrus Avenue Parking structure, as in the case of Betty’s.

“Even down to our Kiwanis club, which are doing pancakes and that probably competes with them too,” he said. “But when you really look at it, it’s one or two days out of the whole year that the classic is going to affect. And so you’re going to get mixed reviews and you’re going to get people who feel really positive about it and emotional and even for the business owners it sometimes affects their business in a way they wouldn’t. And other will say hey I’m glad it’s here and it really helps my business.”