Business boon or bust?

Some worry biker rally in Downtown Lodi will be hassle, not a help

Hundreds of Harley-Davidson motorcycles are expected to rumble through Downtown Lodi this Saturday as part of a rally its organizers describe as a family event that will be a boon to local merchants.

Some of those merchants and city staff, however, are a little worried the event could be more of a hassle than a help.

The Downtown Lodi Business Partnership is co-sponsoring the Lodi Bike Show and Rally, which will involve closing three blocks of School Street between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday.

City Manager Blair King said he is concerned about disrupting prime weekend business hours with 500 or so Harley-Davidsons.

"I have reservations of the fact that it involves a street closure on a Saturday," King said. "It will affect several businesses and the general public."

King said the city approved a permit application to close School Street between Walnut and Elm streets last week. According to the permit, an estimated 1,500 people will attend the event.

"I have reservations about the event, but it's up to the DLBP to chart their own course," King said. "The genesis of this event did not come from the city."

The other organizers of the event, Lodi Beer Company and Valley Harley-Davidson of Stockton, say the event will be family oriented and rowdy behavior will be discouraged.

"What we're trying to put together is more of a carnival atmosphere than a motorcycle thing," Lodi Beer Company Manager Corrie Gutierrez said. "It's going to be a family function."

Chris Ranuio of Valley Harley-Davidson said Downtown merchants could benefit from the increased traffic in the area.

"We want all the merchants to be comfortable with what we're doing and then come back and do it again next year," he said.

Some business-owners Downtown are concerned that the biker rally won't drive the right clientele into their stores, and they complain that street closures hurt business.

"It's not going to help us any," said Nancy Chambers, manager of The Elizabeth Bridal Salon on School Street. "A lot of people don't come in when the street is closed. All they come in to do is use the bathroom."

Darrell Didreckson, owner of Sheri's Sonshine Nutrition on School Street, said he is not opposed to the event, just the street closure.

"Unless the bikers go from beer to vitamins, it's going to kill business," he said. "I love bikes and I think this is a great event, but I don't know why you always have to hammer School Street."

Ranuio said the event will start at Valley Harley-Davidson in Stockton. Bikers will ride into the Delta on a so-called poker run in which they will collect playing cards at different checkpoints. The ride will end at Lodi Beer Company, and riders with winning poker hands will receive prizes. The ride costs $20, which includes a meal at the Beer Company and a drink.

The School Street event will also include a bike show, vendors, live bands, food and drinks. Gutierrez said volunteers and Lodi Police will provide security. The Lodi Police Department signed off on the permit to close the street.

Gutierrez said the event would not likely get out of hand.

"It's not a late-night thing," she said. "We just want to promote the Downtown."

Contact reporter Matt Brown at mattb@lodinews.com.