News: Is Butler bad for business?

http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=831

I find it funny that one of the people favoring this is a hotel operator on Cleveland Road. Usually when I stay in a hotel in Sandusky, I book it ahead of time online depending on on things like price, amenities, location, etc. Sometimes the deals on Cleveland Road as compared to 250 have been too good to pass up. Let me just say that any time I've booked one on Cleveland Road, I've been disappointed with the place when I show up. At that point I end up staying there because I had the reservation. I am pretty sure I've learned my lessopn by this point, but any time I've ended up on Cleveland Road in the past, I've considered it a mistake.

So let's say I just happened to be driving by and needed a place to sleep that night and had no reservations. I sure as heck wouldn't stop at one of the DUMPS on Cleveland Road.

I also think the logic of having people come in on Cleveland Road, but exit on Butler is misguided. "People have money in their pockets when they are coming in." C'mon people! 99% of these people have just passed all the nice resteraunts and shops on 250, do you really think you're going to get that much extra business in your little Cleveland Road hole in the wall?

There just isn't that much down there that would pick up extra business.

What I wouldn't mind is if the park and the city worked together to better distributed the traffic coming in from Route 2 and the Turnpike. This would include signage and park literature. The majority of people seem to end up on 250 (which I figured was on purpose to stimulate the businesses there). But then the locals and park guests always have problems with traffic on 250.

For example, soemone coming in from the west on the turnpike might get off at exit 110 (Ohio 4) and then when he gets to Route 2, he is directed onto Route 2 to 250. Why? Someone coming in from the west already on 2 is never directed to get off at route 6 or route 4 which would both be better than going all the way to 250 and then fighting that traffic. Someone coming form the east on 2 is told they can exit at Rye Beach Road or 250. Why would anyone trying to get to the park in a reasonable amount of time want to go to 250? All of these things could be corrected to lessen the traffic on 250 and increase it a bit on the other Routes, including Cleveland Road.

To me, doing something with signage or advertising makes much more sense than closing a ramp that is serving the exact purpose it was built for.

^ agreed

I do not think that would increase business just make it harder and longer to get to the park.

I agree with MDOmnis and pepsi.

Most people are trying to get to the park. They probably don't care if there are businesses there or not. I also can't see how they think a 3-lane road can handle the cars it normally has plus the traffic of a 4 lane road.

What is stupid is the type of businesses that are down there in the plaza and along that short stretch of Cleveland Rd. Most of the businesses are those that only locals would use, not tourist. You have a Bank, a Salvation Army, a local Sports Store, a CD Trade store, A Car Dealership, Insurance Agent, Rental Place, and a few other small places. The only businesses that I could see benefit a little are the Dollar Store, Rite Aid, The Hotel, and maybe the Connivance Mart (which is way overpriced!). There is also an Ice Cream shop, Pizza shop, and a Chinese Restaurant, but there not even open in the morning. I don’t see the new Marathon Gas station having trouble getting business because you can see it from the Butler St light if your driving west.

But traffic itself would be the biggest problem. Traffic coming into Cedar Point in the morning would have to merge from two lanes on Sycamore to one to make the turn onto Cleveland. As with the 250 off to the Butler ramp, there is two lanes of incoming traffic all the way to the Cedar Point toll booths. I’m telling you all, voice your opinion. You’re the ones that have to deal with it. http://www.ci.sandusky.oh.us/citymgr.htm

It is just a bad idea. The places complaining I'm sure knew where the traffic goes when they opened up. Just from Butler to the causeway on Cleveland has a bunch of closed down places. If they couldnt get the money, what makes the other places think it.

I think Sandusky is upset that Perkins township gets most of the revenue. They just stay quiet and copy any tax they can.

Matt: Correction, people coming from the west on 2 are told to exit either US6 or US250. :)