SPOTLIGHT

Photography by James Pommier

The middle of this month marks one year since the nation was turned upside down by the Coronavirus pandemic and its concomitant restrictions.

While the state progresses through phase 1B of its vaccine deployment, and there is hope that normalcy may be restored sometime this year, businesses, particularly restaurants, salons, fitness studios and those in the retail sector, have already been forced to endure a great deal.

Some have closed their doors permanently; others have temporarily ceased operations, hoping brighter days will soon permit them to resume their livelihoods.

HM recently approached Village of Hinsdale officials to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the local economy.

“In Hinsdale and across DuPage County, everyone has been affected by the pandemic—especially the business community,” village manager Kathleen Gargano said. “With remote working a necessity, companies have had to retool how they conduct business and reassess their commercial business space. Restaurants have had to completely change how they operate, learn how to survive with limited dining space, and adjust to fewer customers wanting to dine-in.”

BY MIKE ELLIS

Jill Sunderson, chair of the seven-member Hinsdale economic development commission, said in late March, she met with Gargano and other village officials on how to respond to the pandemic.

“Businesses were changing overnight,” Sunderson said, particularly alluding to restaurants, salons, fitness studios and local retail establishments.

The officials developed a “shop local” campaign, which has continued to this day, while also creating a Hinsdale “to-go” page on Facebook on The Hinsdale Historical Society kicked off its R. Harold Zook Home and Studio capital which restaurants could post menus, campaign with an outdoor event at Katherine Legge Memorial Park this past fall. and retailers could promote curbside Photography by Mike Ellis pickup options. “We were trying to be as creative as possible,” Sunderson said. Moreover, Sunderson shared examples of business owners directly contacting residents during the “Every business in the downtown was offered the opportunity to have outdoor dining,” village president Tom

Sunderson particularly pandemic. Cauley said. complimented Heather Bereckis, superintendent of parks and recreation for the village, and other staff members for adjusting resources in the early stages of the pandemic. “It’s that kind of creativity “Hopefully, over the past 12 months, people have developed stronger relationships at a somewhat personal Sunderson said director of public safety Bradley Bloom and the police department coordinated closing down streets, discussing how to best accommodate businesses and stakeholders. “Hopefully, over the past 12 months, under the pressure of the pandemic that really shined through in the village,” she said. When the region entered people have developed stronger relationships at a somewhat personal level. We're in it together, and I “It was a huge undertaking on their part,” she said. ... “I think the village was very conscious of minimizing the number of parking spaces Phase 4 of the “Restore Illinois” plan in late June, the village marketing campaign shifted to “welcome back Hinsdale,” and it has continued to evolve on a seasonal basis ever since. For instance, in think people have learned to value what our local business owners provide for this town. ... Without our local businesses, we lose a ton that were taken up.” Sunderson said the longanticipated Hinsdale Middle School parking deck opening in July proved extremely beneficial to the downtown environment. January, the village adopted “ new year, new me ” as its of the charm.” “That has been a huge asset to the village, and slogan, which morphed - HEATHER BERECKIS, will be a huge asset moving into “Hinsdale loves you” Hinsdale Superintendent of Parks and Recreation forward,” she said. ahead of Valentine’s Day in February. Because the pandemic forced people out of their daily routines and, oftentimes, destinations, Sunderson said they largely “became more narrowly focused on their communities in a good way.” “I applaud our local businesses and I applaud our residents over the past 12 months,” she said. ... “It's been a joint effort to maintain a robust local economy. ” level,” she said. “We’re in it together, and I think people have learned to value what our local business owners provide for this town. ... Without our local businesses, we lose a ton of the charm.” One of the strategies that aided the viability of the Hinsdale business community during the pandemic was the village's early decision to promote outdoor dining by converting First and Washington Streets into one-way roads within the downtown business district. Gargano said outdoor dining “provided a definite boost to our local economy by bringing patrons into the community.” Sunderson said outdoor dining has been “very well-received” in the community, and the village is exploring extending it through all of 2021. Throughout the pandemic, a robust outdoor dining program and local marketing campaign have helped the Continued on next page

Salt Creek Ballet presented a virtual Nutcracker in December. Photography by Mike Ellis

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that roughly three-quarters of business Sunderson said commercial real respondents were meeting or exceeding estate firms have been making more village maintain a relatively low vacancy expected customer counts. inquiries about Hinsdale than in the rate. “Compared with our neighbors, we’ re past.

“Hinsdale like other communities in a great position,” Sunderson said. “A lot of the city businesses want now has seen a slight uptick in to follow their customers, its vacancy rates,” Gargano said. “But, in comparison “Hinsdale like other communities has who are moving to the suburbs,” she said. to DuPage County, our numbers are lower. We seen a slight uptick in its vacancy rates. According to Gargano, in addition to Egg Harbor attribute this minimal uptick in large part to the But, in comparison to DuPage County, relocating to downtown Hinsdale, a new lighting strong resident base that concentrated on ‘buying local’ and doing as much our numbers are lower. We attribute this minimal uptick in large part to the store and a new clothier are planning to open on First Street. retail shopping and dining in Hinsdale as possible during the pandemic. The village, the chamber of strong resident base that concentrated on ‘buying local’ and doing as much “The village is grateful for the ingenuity all the businesses have shown commerce and the economic development commission retail shopping and dining in Hinsdale during the pandemic by adjusting their business work collaboratively and will continue to do so to support as possible during the pandemic.. ” models,” she said. “As [the] vaccine becomes more widely all Hinsdale businesses.” - KATHLEEN GARGANO, Hinsdale Village Manager available and restrictions are lifted, we are hopeful

Last November, Sunderson that Hinsdale economy will said the village stood at a 96 percent Both Sunderson and Gargano see return to the pre-pandemic levels.” ■ retail occupancy rate, substantially hope on the horizon for the Hinsdale outpacing Choose DuPage’ s economy in 2021. recommendation of 90 percent as a “We’re getting through this, and things “healthy” occupancy rate. are looking bright,” Sunderson said.

A village survey further indicated

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