Chris Shelley decided to open his store in downtown Kingston, Ont., on a day when many businesses were closed to take advantage of the eclipse-themed merchandise he had for sale. Despite concerns about traffic gridlock and road delays, Shelley saw an increase in customers over the weekend leading up to the eclipse, with t-shirts almost selling out by Monday morning. He believes that the eclipse could put Kingston on the map as a tourist destination and wanted to offer visitors the opportunity to experience all the great things the city has to offer.
City officials had predicted that up to 500,000 visitors could come to Kingston to view the eclipse, but the actual number of visitors did not reach that high. Nevertheless, visitors did come from communities in and around Kingston to witness the celestial event. One visitor from Boston, Will Roughton, said that making the trip was worth the hype, and Shelley himself feels optimistic about the potential impact of the eclipse on the city’s tourism industry.
Shelley views the eclipse as a positive sign that things could be turning around for Kingston this year. He believes that the celestial event will bring attention to Kingston and potentially lead to an increase in tourist numbers. Shelley sees the eclipse as a sign from the heavens that things are looking up and that downtown Kingston could have a great year ahead with an influx of visitors. He is hopeful that the eclipse will mark a turning point for the city’s tourism industry.
In an effort to capitalize on the eclipse and attract visitors to his store, Shelley made the decision to open even though many other businesses were closed. He saw an opportunity to showcase the eclipse-themed merchandise he had available and provide visitors with a unique shopping experience in downtown Kingston. The decision paid off, as Shelley saw an increase in customers over the weekend leading up to the eclipse and nearly sold out of eclipse-themed t-shirts by Monday morning.
Despite concerns about traffic congestion and road delays due to the influx of visitors coming to Kingston for the eclipse, Shelley remained optimistic about the potential benefits for the city. He believed that the eclipse had the potential to boost tourism in Kingston and put the city back on the map as a prime tourist destination. By opening his store and offering eclipse-themed merchandise, Shelley hoped to attract visitors and showcase all that Kingston has to offer, ultimately contributing to a positive outlook for the city’s tourism industry.
Overall, Shelley’s decision to open his store during the eclipse paid off, with an increase in customers and sales of eclipse-themed merchandise. He viewed the celestial event as a positive sign for Kingston, believing that it could lead to a resurgence in tourist numbers and a successful year for downtown Kingston. With optimism and a focus on offering a unique experience for visitors, Shelley embraced the eclipse as an opportunity to showcase Kingston’s attractions and potentially bring in more tourists to the city.
