MOUNT VERNON – Downtown Mount Vernon’s free public Wi-Fi will benefit local vendors during the city’s events such as First Friday, parades and a brew fest.
“This new benefit really is a huge step in the modernization of Mount Vernon, but downtown especially,” said Anthony McLean, Main Street Mount Vernon downtown manager.
The Wi-Fi extends the shopper experience, allowing visitors to surf the web while walking downtown.
“So when you’re downtown and you’re grabbing a bite at Happy Bean or one of the other brilliant eateries and cafes that we have downtown, you can extend your stay by going out if you need to access the Wi-Fi,” he said.
Linda Oviatt, owner of Live Naturally at 10 E. Vine St., expects the free Wi-Fi to get great use during events such as the farmers market, which brings hundreds of visitors downtown.
As she sat in her car outside her shop getting ready to get through the snow and cold on Monday, Oviatt looked forward to slightly less-chilly weather.
“People are not going to be out and about walking around on the street,” she said. “A little gift shop is not going to be getting the traffic that it normally would for me.”
But as soon as it warms up, she expects downtown visitors to walk around before and after they visit restaurants and attend events, which takes them past other local shops.
McLean agrees that big events will gain from the free Wi-Fi.
“I’m thinking First Friday, I’m thinking the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival, I’m thinking Kokosing River BrewFest, I’m thinking the downtown Christmas parade,” he said.
The Wi-Fi access will benefit people wanting to stay downtown longer.
“But it’s also going to be a huge benefit to the vendors that we bring in to set up shop on the street,” McLean said. “They’re able to do business right from their iPad, from their laptop.”
He called it a huge bonus for the Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival. The city allowed businesses to set up tables in front of their storefronts if they didn’t impede pedestrian traffic.
Mount Vernon also allowed bistro-style seating to help with social distancing, with tables for two on the sidewalk in front of merchants, McLean noted. Half Baked Café set up in front of its storefront and that seating has become a downtown fixture.
Editor's Note: The Wi-Fi network is DowntownMV and anyone can log in with the password mtv43050. Entering in the password will bring up a splash page with Mount Vernon's city logo where guests are required to agree to the terms of use before connecting.
