Old Towne Merchants Want Car Show to Go

Merchants in the Old Towne plaza are taking a stand against cultural and civic events that require closing the traffic circle to vehicles.

Last year, plaza businesses were continually disrupted while Tom Hanks filmed scenes for “That Thing You Do!” in the area. Then, there is the stream of cultural events such as the Gogh Van Orange art fair and the Labor Day International Street Fair.

This year, the merchants are drawing the line at closing traffic for the third annual classic car show put on each April by Fat Man Productions.

“It’s a very nice event but, unfortunately, it seems to run head to head with what we try to do on Sundays,” said Lisa Ackerman, head of the Orange Downtown Business and Professional Assn. “It’s a very busy day in Old Towne.”

Ackerman presented the City Council with a petition on Tuesday signed by 52 businesses who want the show to be relocated.

The events, business owners said, bring them woes while bringing publicity for the city. People block doorways and windows as they escape the sun and crowd under awnings, Ackerman said. Or paying customers stay home because the little parking available is closed off.

Will Fitzpatrick, owner of Fat Man Productions, seemed startled by the backlash against his show of 400 classic automobiles.

“We’ve had a very good response,” he said. “We bring in quite a few people from out of town and they do spend money.” Proceeds from the show, which last year totaled $1,500, go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Council members agreed to delay decisions on closing the plaza for the car show and for the Dec. 8 tree-lighting ceremony, until Nov. 26. At that time, city officials will have prepared a report on the issue and make recommendations.