John Nemjo is a gambling man. Each year the owner of Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company brings his Adirondack Paddlefest to the area at a time of year when the weather could be described, at best, as “questionable.”
Sometimes, as was the case last year, his gamble pays off in a big way.
All it takes is the weatherman’s promise of good weather to attract hordes of people to an outdoor event such as Paddlefest which has been billed as “the nation’s largest on-water canoe and kayak demo sale and event.”
Other years however, the weather has been less cooperative. It’s been cold, and sometimes rainy. It even snowed one year.
Though Nemjo had hoped for a better forecast for last weekend’s 13th annual event, he was not disappointed by the numbers of people who thumbed their noses at the weather report and thought nothing of dodging the random rain drops.
As more than one vendor put it, “It’s an on-water event. You’re going to get wet one way or another.”
But despite the unknown, once one Paddlefest ends, Nemjo begins planning the next one. That’s the gambler in him.
One person who applauds Nemjo for his willingness to throw the dice year after year on Paddlefest is Town of Webb Publicity Director Mike Farmer who recognizes it as a boon to the local economy.
“What’s notable about Paddlefest is it happens at a time of year when nothing else is going on, so it’s easier to identify its impact. If it weren’t for Paddlefest, one of two things would occur. First of all, there wouldn’t be anything going on-so there’s none of that direct impact. Second of all, there would be none of the residual impact,” he said.
As is the case in any event, whether it’s Snodeo, Snofest, or Paddlefest, spillover to certain businesses is evident, Farmer said, but it’s the residual effects that goes on for weeks following.
“Business owners and their staffs who have directly benefited from an event have some extra money, so they go out and frequent other businesses. I saw it myself this week-business owners were at other businesses and restaurants sharing the prosperity. They get it, and are out spending their dollars and supporting each other,” Farmer said.
In light of surviving a winter that many business people have called, “our worst season ever,” Farmer believes that an event such as Paddlefest brings hope for the business community for a more prosperous upcoming season.
Tina Zammiello, co-owner of Frankie’s Taste of Italy, agrees.
“Paddlefest is good for us and we’re glad it’s in Old Forge. It brings a lot of people to the area that wouldn’t be here ordinarily at this time of year. It was phenomenal-we’d hate to see it go away,” she said.
