Owen Sound's Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee conducted a project in July 2019  to quantify which retail/service businesses are open on Sundays and why, which retail/service businesses are not open on Sundays and why, and what would need to change for these businesses to consider being open on Sundays.

Here are the minutes of the verbal report on the project from the Committee's October 2019 meeting.

"Mr. Comello reviewed the results from the Sunday Shopping Survey that staff emailed to 265 business owners within the Downtown Improvement Area (DIA). The survey contained four questions.

There were 74 responses to the survey (28%) and 21 stores were canvassed face-to-face by Committee members. 83% of the respondents are not open on Sundays.

The majority of respondents who indicated that they are not open on Sundays stated that it is because Sundays are their day off or they are unable to get staff to work on Sundays. The second largest majority of responses was because it would not generate enough revenue to be open on Sundays.

When asked what would need to change for business owners to consider being open on Sundays, the majority of respondents indicated that a long-term marketing campaign promoting downtown Sunday shopping would need to be undertaken by the City.

Seven respondents also indicated that their lease does not allow them to be open on Sundays. In the other section for this question, several respondents noted that other businesses downtown would have to be open on Sundays as well in order for them to consider being open on Sundays.

Mr. Comello noted that the conclusion that is derived from the survey results is that a critical mass of retailers need to be open on Sundays in order for business owners to consider being open: coordination between retailers for a rotation plan in order to avoid burnout but still keep the critical mass of businesses being open intact. A long-term marketing strategy is also needed.

Three respondents also noted that transit not running on Sunday is an issue for being able to get their staff to work.

Mr. Smith inquired how many buildings the property owner who does not allow the businesses in his building to be open on Sundays owns. Ms. Myers, Director of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture for Grey County, advised that the Business Enterprise Centre staff reviewed these leases a couple of years ago and it stipulated that the tenants would receive a discount on their rent if they agreed to close on Sundays.

Councillor Thomas commented on the lease issue and noted that the City cannot do anything about this. The City cannot tell a property owner how to run their building.

We could look at capitalizing on the fact that businesses are not open on Sundays and market Owen Sound as a quiet place to be on a Sunday. Sundays could be “park day” where you take your families and enjoy one of the many parks within our city.

Chair Dodd recommended that we approach the business owners that are not bound by the lease restrictions for Sundays and ask them why they have decided not to open on Sundays (i.e. Shorty’s Restaurant, Sizzlin, Norma Jean’s, and Jazzmyn’s).The critical mass of retailers that need to be open on Sundays must include food and beverage retailers. Mr. Reesor, Owen Sound and District Chamber of Commerce,  noted that the current mindset in Owen Sound is that stores in the downtown are not open on Sundays. Part of the long-term strategy is letting our retailers know that it is worthwhile for them to be open on Sundays.Mr. McGregor recommended that Committee follow up with the retailers.

Some of the comments he received during the face-to-face canvassing was that the retailer did not even read the email because it came from City staff. We need to get these survey results into the stakeholders’ hands so that we can start changing the mindset on Sundays in the downtown. Many downtown businesses want to work together and do something good for our community."

This was the last time the subject was discussed by the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee.

The Committee consists of: Councillor Travis Dodd, Councillor Brock Hamley, Councillor Richard Thomas, Mayor Ian Boddy, Mike Comello,Jacquie Furtner,James McGregor, Derek Smith, Mary Anne Alton