Merchants seek to end fall Autofest

Richard Jacques

Dozens of Great Neck Plaza merchants are calling for an end to one of Great Neck’s biggest events of the year, which they say has been in decline in recent years.

Local officials disagree, saying the successful annual Autofest/Street Festival will take place again this year – although no money has been allocated by the Village of Great Neck Plaza to date.

A March 9 meeting has been scheduled by the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District at the Plaza Village Hall to listen to suggestions from merchants who want better planning for the event – or even its cancelation.

“They have asked what we can do differently,” said Ron Edelson, vice president of the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District, who said he is not concerned that the festival will be called off.

“We have thousands of people who show up every year, why would you want to cancel it?” Edelson said.

Signatures of owners from 52 Great Neck Plaza and Great Neck Estates businesses are on the list which calls for local officials “to cancel any plans for a 2011 Annual AutoFest/Street Festival in Great Neck Plaza,” according to the Petition To Cancel The 2011 Autofest/Street Festival obtained by Blank Slate Media. A few of the businesses on the list, which was circulated about two months after last year’s festival, are no longer open.

“It’s not a matter of not wanting it, it’s a matter of improving it,” said Philip Meltzer of Spectacles located at 80 Middle Neck Road in Great Neck Plaza, who was instrumental in starting the petition. “As an individual voice, I’d like to eliminate it.”

Meltzer said the annual festival does not negatively affect his business, but he believed the car show has gone down considerably in recent years and the money used for the event should be used more effectively.

Last year, the Village of Great Neck Plaza contributed $10,000 for the event, according to Plaza administrator Pat O’Byrne.

“Having been here for 23 years and seeing the decline of the festival, I thought that something new had to be done,” said Meltzer, who questions the research and planning of the festival in recent years.

Citing declining attendance, competition from other Long Island car shows, the quality of cars at the car show and decreased interest by merchants during the festival, the group is urging officials to consider other options.

The group suggested additional promenade nights on Middle Neck Road, Bond Street, Grace Avenue and North Station Plaza could be accompanied by an “exotic car display” that would attract shoppers offering greater sales potential for Great Neck Plaza merchants or a formal fashion show, utilizing professional models and staging.

Last year, the one-day Autofest/Street Festival drew an estimated crowd of between 20,000 to 30,000 people on Middle Neck Road and intersecting streets, according to event organizers.

Held Sept. 25, last year’s event featured live entertainment, an antique fair, more than 100 domestic, foreign and collectible cars, carnival rides, pumpkin carving, hayrides, pony rides and a petting zoo on Middle Neck Road and intersecting streets.

BID officials say the country fair atmosphere helps make the event special and popular.

Jay Corn, executive director of the Business Improvement Board, said the festival helps local businesses by attracting people from surrounding communities to come to the village and it also rewards those who shop in Great Neck regularly.

“This is a day to celebrate and thank the people that come into town all year long,” said Corn. “It is the biggest foot-traffic event that the Plaza holds every year.”

Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender did not return a request for comment made by Blank Slate Media regarding the festival.

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