By Khalida Sarwari
It’s been a long time coming, but they’re finally here: Downtown Saratoga has four new directories.
The directories, first unveiled to the public in late April, are titled “Historic Saratoga Village” and are divided into three parts. On the left side is a map with all of the businesses on Big Basin Way, while on the right side is a color-coded listing divided into six categories: art/apparel/specialty/shopping and gifts, cafes, restaurants, health and beauty, bars, and real estate and finance. Underneath the map and listings is a comprehensive list of services that include everything from medical and academic to construction. Amenities such as free parking, electric charging stations and WiFi are denoted on the left-hand corner of the map.
In addition to businesses, the map also helps visitors locate other points of interest, such as the history museum, Book-Go-Round and Wildwood Park.
The directories can be found near the crosswalks in front of Starbucks, in front of Rose Market, on Fourth Street and on the Third Street crosswalk facing the street.
Councilwoman Emily Lo has been leading the effort to bring the directories to the Village for years. As the former president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, she said she thinks a lot about how to promote business vitality in the city, and that this is one simple way of achieving that.
“I feel that we talk a lot about promoting business vitality and Village vitality, and I think every bit helps,” she said.
The benefits are multiple, she said. The directories not only help visitors find what they’re looking for, but they also give people an idea of what Saratoga offers.
“I personally like shopping; I’m thinking that maybe we should do a functional piece that could help people locate the businesses and help the visitors to know what we have available in the Village,” said Lo, adding, “I think this enhances the overall visitor experience because it gives a gesture of customer service; if people feel welcomed, they’ll spend more.”
The directories are one component of the second phase of the Village Streetscape Improvement project that the city approved a few years ago. The initiative aims to improve pedestrian access and beautify the downtown.
According to public works director John Cherbone, the signs cost $1,500 each. The city placed an order for them in November of last year. They were erected over the course of just a few days. The Chamber played a vital role in providing information about the businesses to the city.
Lo said that the directories would be updated regularly–at least once every six months–and indicated more of them could be placed in the Village depending on how well the initial four are received.
“Right now we’re trying these out and seeing how it goes,” she said.
