Doggone business climate

The Town of Windsor is experiencing another wave of business
closures both on and off the Town Green.
David’s Hot Dogs on The Green will close shop in December.
David’s joins the Windsor Board Shop and Star Town restaurant as
recently shuttered Windsor businesses. Several other businesses are
looking for ways to survive through the Christmas season but said
privately that they may close in the coming weeks.
David Kahn, who has owned David’s Hot Dogs for two and a half
years with his wife Sheri, said the business had earned a good
reputation among locals and tourists but he experienced a sudden
drop in business around Labor Day. He also incurred unexpected
expenses when he broke his leg earlier in the year and he said
while the business had good days, it just wasn’t profitable.
“I’m really heartbroken that we can’t afford it anymore,” he
said.
Gary Quackenbush, CEO of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce said he
sympathized with businesses facing tough times but said there were
opportunities to succeed in Windsor.
Quackenbush said Windsor remained a place of high potential for
people who were willing to do their homework. “What are the stores
that this town doesn’t have and what goes on around here that
people would want to know about?” he said. “There are opportunities
all over the place but who is doing the market research?”
He said stores targeting Windsor’s sports, youth and outdoor
communities were ideas for potential businesses but said business
owners have to be willing to change with the whims of their
customers.
“It’s a question of how often and how fast are you willing to
change gears and stay in the game,” he said.
Quackenbush said the Chamber will be facilitating more
discussions among local businesses to identify successful
strategies. “There’s a need to share that kind of information
around a table. We’ll try to bring people together in Eastside and
Westside Marketing committees. It’s long overdue that we try to
work together collectively as merchants and a chamber to structure
an exchange of information that’s going to make a difference.”
Kahn said his location had the potential to become a stand-up
deli that could function without a fume hood if someone was willing
to invest in the right equipment. However, he said something needed
to happen to make Downtown Windsor more of a day-to-day draw for
residents. “I can understand why the everyday person doesn’t come
here every day,” he said.