Council looks to expand visitor options

PENN YAN--"People love that they live in Penn Yan," says Dr. Teresa Hoban, owner of Hoban's Chiropractic and Hoban's Spirits both in Penn Yan. Offering options for visitors and residents to enjoy the heart of the Finger Lakes offers expanded opportunities for businesses and events to bring friends together.
Wanting to expand the options downtown, a group of business owners and interested residents began meeting, right before the pandemic, to find ways they could work together to promote positive change. The goal of the Penn Yan Downtown Business Council (DBC) was to generate ideas and plan events. Their inaugural Wing Walk was the last event held before things closed down in 2020.
"I grew up in Penn Yan and I always heard, 'You can't do that in Penn Yan, no one will come,'" Hoban says, refuting the sentiment.
The 2022 Wing Walk, scheduled for Saturday, March 5 from noon to 4 p.m., announces good times are on their way back--though last year's Trunk or Treat in October and the Fall Festival two weeks later in November, both sponsored by the DBC, were also successful, well-attended events. The plans the council are developing are also their way to thank the community who supported them and helped keep their businesses alive through the past tough years. Hoban is the president of the DBC.
"It's a progressive and forward-thinking group," says Stacey Ingerick, owner of the Keuka Candy Emporium on Main Street and a founding member of the council. "When you get into this group, ideas just bounce off our heads. Synergy is a good word for it. Everything melds well. And we're always encouraging anyone, even if you're not a business owner, to attend." The larger community includes Dundee, Watkins Glen and Geneva among other places. He adds, "People come because they want your business to survive. We're very grateful and we want everyone to know that!"
"We felt we could get people to come downtown, make Penn Yan a destination spot and increase all our businesses," Hoban says. For example, those who come to the Wing Walk, as they travel between participating eateries, will pass many other interesting places worthy of a first-time visit or a second look.
Heather Griffiths, owner of The Nest Egg on Main Street, offers a unique assortment of gift and commemorative items and is one of the places visitors could stop between their chicken wing tasting locations. She notes, "There are a lot of people coming in from out of town and out of state for the wing walk."
Hoban says, "Businesses may stay open later. Some have new things they want to try. The goal is just come on down, walk around the town, have some fun," she explains. In planning for the event, the DBC is coordinating with the Yates County Chamber of Commerce who is handling ticket sales.
The DBC is a sub-committee of the chamber and the two work together to expand the county's outreach.
"The combination of our passions, resources and experience at the chamber matched with downtown Penn Yan business owners' eagerness to grow, strengthens our local economy and is a win for all," says Jessica Bacher, president and CEO of the Yates County Chamber of Commerce.
That's additionally important because the community sees a huge influx of tourists each year. As well, the pandemic brought new year-round residents who realized they could work from home in a beautiful setting and decided to exchange an urban jungle for community.
Event registrants will start out at one of four businesses to check-in, pick up a guide, a ballot to turn in later, nominating the best wings they've tasted, and a gift. At each of the six participating restaurants, they'll be given two wings. The eatery with the most votes gets a trophy to display and hope to keep beyond next year's wing walk. Tickets are $25 each, sold online at business.yatesny.com/events/details/penn-yan-wing-walk-2022-4591.
Certainly, at least 500 people will taste food they'll want to return and eat again. And they'll have all sorts of opportunities, starting with First Fridays and other delights in the works. The Penn Yan DBC is certain of it.