Catch the Ace a boon and a burden for Hagersville merchants

As the Catch the Ace jackpot has kept growing, the resulting influx of people into Hagersville has been both a boon and a burden for downtown merchants.

Business has been good," said Asjed Rauf, owner of Hagersville Discount Store. Business has gone up 10 per cent. It's very good."

With lineups that snaked around the entire block, the long wait to purchase tickets has given out-of-town visitors a chance to browse the local stores and spend their money in the community.

I planned my shopping around this," said St. Catharines resident Lourdes Campi. My husband and I are tag-teaming errands and waiting. Neither of us enjoy lineups, but the shops we would need are right around here, and it's quaint here so we are enjoying the race to the ace."

Owner of Plank Road Taps and Grill Shannon Binek is pleased not only with the increased clientele, but with the fact that the more people who come to buy tickets, the better it is for both the immediate community and Haldimand as a whole.

It's supporting the cause, and the magnificent part is that since the Catch the Ace brought in people from out of town, it's created a culture in my restaurant, and for a lot of businesses here, and sales are increasing," she said. There's so much foot traffic and it's magical to have a positive thing for Hagersville."

Binek said that her newer clientele is coming in on Thursdays like clockwork: first crossing over to the legion, grabbing their tickets, and coming to the restaurant to enjoy a meal.

Now they're coming to the pub even when it's not busy, because they know we're right up the highway," she said. "I know that on one hand, it's chaos because of the parking, but it's nice to see our streets lined with people who came here for a purpose and a reason."

But not all businesses are happy with the human influx. Of a dozen business owners and managers contacted, four declined to comment, citing fear of retribution for their frustrations, which include increased littering, and the clogging of streets, parking lots and store entrances. Some have seen a loss of foot traffic on Thursdays as their usual clientele has started avoiding Hagersville.

However, all of those reached supported the Hagersville Lions Club and the Hagersville Rocks committee of the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce in their efforts, even bringing meals and snacks for volunteers.

Foodland franchise owner Rita Haviland said that she's had less traffic than usual, and some Catch the Ace patrons have been parking in the store's lot, and on both sides of the three roads that surround her store. The jammed streets almost cost her a fresh produce delivery - but she said she wasn't complaining about it.

What's happening to our town never happens, and it's pretty special," she said. People are coming from all over for a chance to win, and we benefit locally, particularly the hospital.

Sure there are some inconveniences and irritations, but the (groups) are doing a tremendous job looking after our community."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With crowds spilling into Hagersville's streets with hope of catching the ace, we wanted to know what impact it is having on local businesses.