Here’s Details On The Downtown Kalamazoo Outdoor Experience

Update: No one form any entity in a position to affect the change to a new Kalamazoo slogan has moved closer to the obvious choice: "Kalamazoo...Fun To Say, Fun To Stay".  I'm giving it to the city as a gift no strings attached.

I don't want to be that guy but I've been doing the Rocker Morning Show for over 30 years and I've come up with, what, a handful of pretty good ideas?  And not just great slogans.  In fact, nearly 30 years ago I was on the air bloviating about how the downtown area needed to be be more entertainment-centric and appeal to the 25,000 college students in town.

Well, everybody else had a better idea, ya know, until my idea became the real and only option.  Now if we could just get the remaining retail store to stay open past 5pm when people want to shop after work.  But I digress.

So there's good news and bad news.  The good news is downtown and the city of Kalamazoo are formulating a plan to expand businesses outdoors to attract more customers.  The bad news is they're doing it at a time when people don't necessarily want to be out and about with other people.

Don't get me wrong.  I think it's a great idea.  I thought it was a great idea when I suggested it almost 30 years ago.  But, again, it's not about me.  I truly want downtown Kalamazoo to succeed and will support the effort.

I especially like what may happen in Bates Alley where you could find a spot adjacent to one of the businesses, grab a high top along the back fence or just stroll with a drink and a bite.  It would be nice to turn the mall back to pedestrian on the weekends with nice weather.  It looks like some of that might happen.  I just hope people respond and head downtown.  For details go to downtownkalamazoo.org.