Slow down, stop and shop in Clinton

Decades of experience may separate a new waffle house and coffeehouse in Clinton from the town’s grocery store and hardware store. But they all share one thing in common, a dislike of cars speeding along Highway 525.

Numerous businesses in Clinton provide a variety of products, including Internet access, hardware, waffles, and coffee. To get to any of these establishments, however, the customers must contend with Highway 525. It is a road heavily traveled by daily commuters and tourists, especially in the summer. Many of the ferry users, however, drive past Clinton businesses on their way home or to another location.

But some business owners believe that if they find a way to slow those cars down and make the town more attractive, more of those drivers and walk-on ferry passengers may come to Clinton and provide a boost to business.

Ideas include lowering the speed limit, welcome signs, landscaping in town and installing a stop light.

Lynea Slinden, owner of Island Framery, said fundraising efforts are underway to design and install a sign welcoming people to Clinton at the edge of Clinton Progressive Hall’s parking lot. In addition, funds are being gathered to put in landscaping at the same location.

The Clinton Progressive Hall serves as a good place to set a visible border for the town, Slinden said. Because the town lacks a welcome sign, many people view the Clinton ferry terminal as the town’s beginning and end because no other definition of the town presently exists.

Slinden said the signs and landscaping — along with a new park soon to be built near the terminal — may entice more walk-on ferry passengers to spend the day in Clinton.

To draw people to Clinton and to unveil a sign design, a Memorial Day festival is tentatively planned for Clinton.

“The whole idea is to make people aware that we do have a town here,” Slinden said.

But not everyone thinks all the ideas will work.

People know where Clinton is, said Jim Harwell, owner of Jim’s Hardware for more than 30 years. Building a good reputation by working hard is the best way to draw customers, he said.

This sort of good local reputation seems to apply to Clinton Food Mart, as well. Clay Anderson, the store’s manager, said sales have been picking up recently after years of flat growth. He said he is optimistic rising sales will continue.

Harwell said the growing population on Whidbey Island and steady local business has ensured growing business for at least 30 years.

Still, for businesses which have not had the time to build a reputation, any changes may be welcome.

Wild Birds Unlimited owner Joel Mooney, Whidbey Waffles owner Dan Traylor and Slinden all report mixed sales since moving to downtown Clinton throughout the last year. All three began working at their respective stores within the last year.

Mooney is particularly supportive of landscaping. Unattractive objects in town, such as pallets and used vehicles sitting outside, put people off from wanting to stop, he said. Additionally, he said, more small shops are needed to bring more tourists.

Another business owner hoping to draw people to a Clinton-based business is Dan Cole, co-owner of Rockhopper Coffee House. He opened the store April 2 and said he plans to cater to a niche clientele searching for free Wi-Fi Internet service to go with their coffee and pastry.

Cole said he does not plan on opening his store until after 11 a.m. so that he does not cut into Whidbey Waffle’s drip coffee business and the espresso business at another Clinton coffee shop, Southern Cross. He might change his mind, though, if people want coffee earlier.

Speed of business

The only thing agreed on by several of the Clinton business owners is the need to slow people down.

“I have had a lot of people say ‘I passed you before seeing you,’” said Dan Traylor, at Whidbey Waffles.

The problem with speeding through town and not looking around does not appear limited to the 30 mile per hour speed limit zone.

Mooney at Wild Birds, said customers, especially elderly customer, find leaving Wild Bird Unlimited difficult. He said a lowered speed limit at the outskirts of the town and better speed enforcement would help. The speed limit increases from 35 mph to 50 mph near Mooney’s store, which is located about a mile from the ferry terminal.

In addition to a lower speed limit, Traylor said installing a stop light at the Deer Lake Road and Highway 525 intersection will help.

Slinden disputed the need for a reduced speed limit and stop sign. She said it would bring more law enforcement to the area and would create a hostile environment.

Appealing to the state Department of Transportation installing landscaping in the center of the road is a better idea, she said. Flowers and plants provide a calming effect and drivers are more likely to slow down and look around.

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