Looking to Liven Up Downtown

Restaurants, stores and other businesses trying to bring downtown to life have begun to come up with ideas for special events such as a food and wine festival or ethnic music concert.

The owners joined with the city this week in launching a business association, and now committees are forming to plan events and work on marketing strategies.

“I want to be optimistic for the area, even though I’m suffering,” said Aristidis Deslis, the owner of Zorba’s restaurant near City Hall.

Deslis suggested the food and wine festival. Other ideas offered by association organizers include concerts, arts and crafts fairs, carnivals and seasonal activities.

“I think the key is finding a catalyst to bring more people down here,” said Elisa Stipkovich, executive director of the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency. The city agency will fund the association for one year, then the financial burden will shift to the members.

One business that Stipkovich called critical to attracting nighttime crowds is the recently opened Freedman Forum Concert Theater. Formerly known as the Celebrity Theater, the 2,500-seat theater is operated by Bruce Kahn, who said he expects to book between 75 and 100 events this year.

Touted as another key to downtown revitalization is the Disney Ice skating complex, which opened last fall. The two-rink complex is the practice site of the Mighty Ducks professional hockey team and is open to the public.

Disney Ice operations manager Steve Bireley suggested that the downtown needs “a hangout” where ice skaters can go after they leave the rink. Such a business, he predicted, “would make a ton of money.”