While outdoor entertainment picks up for the fall season, indoor venues are still struggling to rebound as coronavirus fears and restrictions linger.
The overall outlook of the tourism industry in Johnson County is positive according to anecdotal evidence and tourism tax revenue, said Kenneth Kosky, director of Johnson County’s tourism, convention and visitors bureau. However, some businesses are doing better than others.
The new Festival Country Indiana Visitors Center, run by the bureau in downtown Franklin, has seen visitors from places such as Columbus, Indianapolis and even Carmel seeking a nearby getaway, Kosky said. Visitors are looking for something new to do and places that offer outdoor activities or indoor attractions that have precautions in place, he said.
“That suggests to me that people are looking to get out and do something yet in 2020,” he said.
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Restaurants, especially those with outdoor patios, are seeing full houses again, while small business retailers are starting to welcome back shoppers, Kosky said. And outdoor venues are seeing the most activity, he said.
Outdoor element helps
Visitors are flocking to outdoor venues, such as Mallow Run Winery and The Apple Works, for entertainment in the fresh air as temperatures cool, he said.
Business at The Apple Works is average for this time of year, as apples start to come into season and visitors flock to the orchard for outdoor activities and sweet treats, said Sarah Brown, who owns the orchard with her husband, Rick.
“I think we are doing about the same as we have been,” Brown said. “People are ready to get out in the country … where it is a little bit easier to social distance.”
Visitors are greeted by many precautions that allow the orchard’s fall traditions to continue safely. For example, the train has plexiglass shields up, and the apple dumplings and ice cream have moved to a trailer outside, Brown said. And without the traditional wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, u-pick pumpkins will still be available later this month, she said.
For those looking to minimize exposure, The Apple Works is also offering curbside service for grocery items, baked goods, cider slushies and ice cream, she said.
The outdoor element of fall traditions such as The Apple Works and Kelsay Farms’ corn maze will be a central piece of their marketing efforts this season, Kosky said. The visitor’s bureau is also holding some events of its own. So far, downtown Franklin walking tours have sold out, including haunted tours scheduled each weekend in October, he said.
Holding out hope
For indoor venues, the struggle continues, as many people are still wary of gathering in close quarters.
At the Pixy Theatre in Edinburgh and Gutty’s Comedy Club in Greenwood, shows go on each week, but crowds are sparse. Both venues are at 50% capacity, per Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order.
At a normal pre-coronavirus show, about 50 people would attend shows. But now, the Pixy Theatre sees 20 to 25 show up for live music events, said Mike Harding, owner.
The venue, at the former masonic lodge at 111 S. Walnut St., Edinburgh, also offers event space, and this year, just two events have been booked when typically, there are about a half-dozen.
Neither live events or movies bring in enough money to pay the bills, but Harding is holding out hopes that business will rebound soon. For Harding, keeping the Pixy Theatre open is his way of giving back to the community, even if it means losing money.
“We don’t do this to make a lot of money, we do this for the community,” Harding said. “My financial adviser would probably tell me to close it.”
Gutty’s Comedy Club, located at 300 S. Madison Ave., Greenwood, is seeing about half its usual attendance. The venue would typically draw about 50 for its 100-capacity shows. Now, it draws about 25 to its weekly clean comedy shows, said Steve Rivera, owner.
Since its capacity is cut in half, Gutty’s got creative to recover lost revenue with a live stream of its shows. The venue started live streaming three weeks ago, and has seen some early support, though there is still plenty of room to grow, Rivera said.
Despite the learning curve and a significant upfront investment, the club sees possibilities for the live stream to draw in significant new business, especially for shows featuring nationally-recognized comedians, he said.
With the live stream, the 100-person capacity venue could have as many as 2,000 online viewers exponentially growing viewership, Rivera said. So, the idea is to keep growing the online part of the business even after the venue can fill up again, he said.
“What I see is a blessing in disguise," Rivera said. "It is positioning us, that when it is lifted, we can have a full audience and an online show.”
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Gutty’s Comedy Club
When: Shows every Friday, Saturday at 8 p.m., and some Thursdays
Where: 300 S. Madison Ave., Greenwood
Tickets: Studio audience tickets $15 advance, $20 day of. Buy online at eventbrite.com/o/guttys-comedy-club-30424573574 or call/text 317-395-3020.
Live stream: Online pay per view $20, visit guttyscomedyclub.com for details.
Pixy Theatre
When: Live music every Saturday, times vary
Where: 111 S. Walnut St., Edinburgh
Schedule: Visit theedinburghpixy.com/calendar.php
Tickets: $10, purchase at door or call 812-526-6513 to reserve.
The Apple Works
When: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 8157 S. County Road 250 W., Trafalgar
Details: 21 varieties of apples, country store, apple baked goods, apple cider, ice cream, u-pick pumpkins, train rides, pony rides, playground.
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