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Despite dire predictions, the city and business community in Colfax have begun to turn around the economic outlook of an area that just in March was the subject of a meeting titled “Colfax: Ghost Town or Not?” With a chamber of commerce on the verge of bankruptcy, businesses reporting lackluster sales and a town looking at possible deficits, the community has rallied and things are beginning to look up. The town finally has a working budget, the chamber of commerce is in the black, and new projects, such as the wastewater treatment plant, mean more dollars for the cash-strapped hamlet. With this edition, the Sentinel takes an in-depth look at a community that is proving it’s anything but a ghost town. Stories and photos by Don Chaddock.
Downtown Colfax, the town’s historic business district, has been hard hit, but appears to be on the upswing with two new restaurants and a museum opening on Main Street. Sentinel file photo.
BUSINESS: Can new signs, restaurants breathe life into historic Colfax business district?
The business community in Colfax was worried when foot traffic stopped coming to the historic downtown district after Madonna’s restaurant closed down last year, but with the opening of two new neighboring restaurants (Bella Sera and Naked Rooster), are customers returning?
"It’s increased a bit, but not much," said Kita Keen, owner of nearby Railhead Saloon. "If people would like to walk two doors down for a cocktail after their dinner, they are certainly welcome."
Gina Erickson, of Whistle Stop Quilt Shop, said she has seen more people downtown, but most of her customers come from out of the area.
"My customers come in groups from Placerville and other places and as a quilt shop, I’m more of a destination place for quilters. My customers now have someplace to eat. They like coming in from out of town and eating lunch and shopping," she said.
She is also expanding her business and will be adding a classroom upstairs.
"People referred to the downtown of Colfax as a ghost town," City Councilman Jim Albright, a Colfax native, said. "In my opinion, as long as I can remember, businesses come and go. I don’t see Colfax as a ghost town. It’s not right to call it that."
He said that with the opening of the two new restaurants, people should start to return.
"You know, Madonna’s brought a lot of people to town, especially on weekends," he said.
Wayne Coleman of Weird, located on Main Street, said he hasn’t seen an increase in people and fears that some local businesses will be shutting their doors.
"New restaurants don’t take off overnight, and Bella Sera has only been open a few weeks," he said. "In the long term, I’m sure it will help the foot traffic in Colfax."
Getting people to downtown was the focal point of the town forum in March, with many requesting improved signage to let visitors know that there was a historic downtown area.
Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce President John Potter is spearheading a cooperative effort between the city and local businesses to improve the signs, possibly even going so far as to change some of the town’s sign ordinances.
"Signage had always been a taboo subject," Potter said. "Now the business community will finally have input regarding the signs, which before has been off-limits. The chamber has stepped up to the plate regarding this issue. ... We’re very excited about this opportunity."
Bella Sera, the new Italian restaurant at 46 N. Main Street, is one of two new eateries to open in the historic downtown area in recent months. From left is hostess Shelley Hilton and head waiter Joe Bogaczyk.
Brad Childs, who ran the town forum in March, said a lot of good work is being done as a direct result.
"There seems to be a lot of momentum going forward, almost like a synergy of collaboration with new businesses coming in and working with each other," he said. "Basement Wines, an established business, expanded their hours. Depot Street Coffee has expanded their hours and days to accommodate customers who used to frequent Camp 20 Coffee House. ... The businesses are responding to the needs of the community."
Albright said the city wants to help the town’s economy bounce back and grow.
"That’s what we were discussing at the City Council meeting (last Tuesday night) about working with the businesses on the signs," he said. "We can do a lot more to help bring people to downtown and to help the businesses."
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CITY: Colfax passes leanest budget in years
After two months of wrestling with its budget, the City Council finally agreed on the particulars following a marathon three-hour meeting last Tuesday night.
Some of the deepest cuts in the budget came from the city engineer’s department, which was effectively slashed in half, transferring $30,000 into a “contingency” fund. Other cuts included eliminating the funds for a camera operator at the city council meetings and paying someone to handle the farmers’ market in downtown.
City Councilman Joshua Alpine was the driving force behind most of the cuts, including the farmer’s market.
“I want to see it all gone,” he said of the farmers’ market and camera operator funding. “This is an event just like any other event. ... The Farmers’ Market Association will have to provide people at the beginning of the day and end of the day to set up and take down (as any other event is expected to do).”
The town’s membership in the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and the League of California Cities also came under scrutiny.
“What do we get in return?” Alpine asked.
Mayor Sharon Geiras said the town needs its place at the table when issues that may affect Colfax are discussed.
“But what do we get back? Nothing comes back to us,” he said.
Convincing arguments by Geiras and Sherrie Blackmun kept the funding and participation intact for now.
The biggest cut was removing $30,000 from the engineering department and words of caution were uttered by City Manager Joan Phillipe and Finance Director Dau Luc.
“If you take monies out of the engineering budget, we will not have those monies to complete city projects,” Phillipe warned.
City Attorney P. Scott Brown cautioned the council about removing the funds.
“If you want (engineering related) investigations, we’re not going to be able to do those unless you allocate the funds each time,” Brown said.
Luc said that just because the money is removed from the budget, doesn’t mean it’s gone.
"I advise against removing the money just to put it back in mid-year,” Luc said.
Alpine remained adamant about the cut.
“I want to under-fund it for six months,” he said, “to force the department to work (within its means).”
Blackmun and fellow council member Suzanne Roberts agreed.
“I’m fed up with this department,” Blackmun said as she cast the deciding vote.
When the planning department came under fire and was on the budgetary chopping block, Alpine came to their defense.
“Sherri (Conway) has always been a straight shooter with us,” Alpine said.
Roberts wanted the funding cut back to its contracted level of $4,300 per month, and while Blackmun agreed, she begrudgingly went along with Alpine.
“They see us as a goldmine and they are taking advantage of us,” she said, despite casting a vote to keep it funded at a higher level.
The City Council also voted to renew the $3,000 in funds for the chamber, with the stipulation that the business organization provide a detailed report on how the money is spent and provides an annual financial report to the council.
City Councilman Jim Albright, frustrated that the process took months, said, “I just think it’s embarrassing that we’re sitting here all this time and can’t pass a budget. Why couldn’t these questions have been asked two months ago?”
Despite his frustration, he said it is a lean budget and he’s satisfied with the outcome.
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COMMUNITY: Annual Founders' Day celebration draws crowds, Colfax Chamber in the black
The Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce has had a few rocky years, but appears to be recovering nicely after shaking up the organizational structure and committing themselves to promoting business, and the town’s annual Founders’ Day event promises to bring plenty of visitors.
“Becoming an all-volunteer chamber has significantly increased our finances,” said President John Potter, co-owner of Blue Cat Studios.
“The board relied heavily on the chamber director (before),” he said, referring to the elimination of the paid staff position.
“We’re healthy and have invested money in promotional programs,” he said.
With the city council’s renewal of $3,000 in funding, Potter can breathe a little easier. The chamber acts as a visitor center in downtown, which is why City Councilman Joshua Alpine fought to keep the funding.
On Sept. 29, the town’s annual Founders’ Day Celebration will also feature a business fair, which Potter said is open to any business in town.
“We’re really reaching out to more nontraditional businesses, like those who work out of their homes, so they have an opportunity to network and grow their businesses,” he said. “We want to show all that Colfax has to offer.”
Brad Childs, of the Wilderness Institute, said the town now has a lot more to offer.
"The Heritage Museum, run by the Colfax Historical Society, is open daily and so now there is more to do. It all makes Colfax more active, giving visitors more to do and making it more of a destination,” Childs said.
“Railroad Days is the theme for the Founders’ Day Celebration (on Sept. 29). That’s a direct result of the ‘Ghost Town or Not?’ meeting, getting the town behind our railroad heritage,” Childs said.
There is no admission charge to attend the Founders’ Day Celebration, which will feature live music, food, activities (such as “tomahawk throwing” and gold panning), a beard contest and much more.
Rebecca Sobaje, of Blue Cat Studio, said people should plan on arriving no earlier than 10 a.m. and no later than 3 p.m. so they can participate in most of the activities.
To learn more, call the Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce at 530-346-8888.
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