Businesses boom during court week
Thousands of people who pack the Fayette County Courthouse the first week of the month for criminal court are creating a boom in business for most government offices as well as city eateries.
Sheriff Gary Brownfield attested to the increase, noting 1,600 and 1,800 people come through the door of the courthouse daily, compared with the norm of around 900 to 1,100. Brownfield said there is also an increase in those who stop by the basement office to apply for gun permits — with between 10 and 20 daily during court week.
“It’s has been so great that we’ve had to put two people at the security check point,” said Brownfield of the building entrance.
For the most part, Nancy Wilson, Fayette County Treasurer, attributed the strong economy throughout the courthouse during the first week is fueled by people taking care of business while already in the building.
“There’s an increase when the checks come out the first of the month,” Wilson added.
Wilson said her office tends to issue more dog licenses, but is seeing cutbacks in hunting and fishing licenses, which excludes doe licenses.
Wilson noted the treasurer’s office is the only place where small games of chance applications are available.
According to Brownfield, employees in the Recorder of Deeds office have seen an abundance of traffic from people researching area gas wells.
The Clerk of Courts office also experiences a rush hour atmosphere, Brownfield said, with people paying fines.
Prior to hunting season and generally up to the day of, Brownfield recalled how people are lined up out the door of the treasurer’s office.
When the court house closes for lunch hour, the pace picks up along Main Street at eating establishments within close walking distance.
Roger Clatterbuck of Cafe 45 Emporium, said business increases by at least three times the amount during criminal court week.
“We do see a definite spike,” said Clatterbuck.
Clatterbuck has found that being located about 150 yards from the courthouse also plays a major role in attracting customers.
According to Clatterbuck, the B21 Coffee and Food Depot, Cafe 45’s sister shop down the street, has a smaller customer base. “We get about four or five new people during criminal court week,” he said.
Business remains pretty steady across the board at Rizzi’s situated further down Main Street, according to owner Ben Venick.
Venick noted the lunch crowd tends to run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Venick said the number of customers during court week, however, mainly depends on the weather. “When it’s rainy or it’s cold, especially down this way, we don’t get the foot traffic.”