Savannah Downtown Business Association hosts inaugural ‘Retailfest’

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -Savannah’s Downtown Business Association is shining a light on local retailers.

On Thursday they hosted the inaugural Retailfest as a way to highlight issues local business owners are facing.

“On Broughton street and downtown specifically, we actually don’t get a lot of local businesses,” explained Tonya Ryntie, owner of Locally Made Savannah.

Downtown Savannah businesses owners like Ryntie say that lately they’ve been feeling less and less local support. Now when locals do come in—they say it comes as a shock.

“It almost makes you want to cry and hug them because it is so rare that we actually get locals in our store,” Ryntie said.

It’s not just Tonya Ryntie feeling this way, many local business owners say they’re worried about the lack of local foot traffic, especially once savannah’s busy tourist season ends.

“We asked our members what they needed and what they wanted, and they wanted more local support, and they wanted more business to business support,” said Mia Mance, DSBA Executive Director.

The issue inspired Savannah’s Downtown Business Association to host the inaugural downtown business association retailfast. Sparking conversations between business owners and the community to help keep the doors of local businesses open.

“Talking about what drives business, what can drive more locals, what does it look like in the online experience for people, social, and how important that is, but also the things that they’re doing to innovate, deliver, opening up new locations,” Mance said.

Ryntie says things like parking and safety can sometimes pose a challenge. She hopes that by working closely with the city and downtown savannah business association, they can begin to find solutions.