Bethany D’Alimonte, Musicland owner, delegated at the March 25 council meeting in favour of Open Air. Listen to the audio at the end of this post.

Councillor Pouget was the first to thank D’Alimonte and asked if she was representing the entire core area downtown or just a specific group; D’Alimonte said she was representing all businesses. Pouget asked if she got permission from all the businesses including the hairdressing shops and the barber shops. D’Alimonte said she talked to pretty much everyone downtown and they’re not against Open Air; they’re against the people who are overbearing it.

When Pouget asked what she meant by ‘overbearing, D’Alimonte answered that they are against the people who are trying to come at them saying that they are against open air; that they’re not against open air and words have been twisted.

Pouget relayed that last year there were a large number of businesses that did not feel 14 weeks was a good compromise, that it was going to hurt their businesses and they left in tears.

Councillor Donald McArthur then thanked D’Alimonte and mentioned in the old days if you needed equipment in a pinch to play music you had to go all the way to Windsor; now they can go to downtown Amherstburg; he thinks it’s fantastic. He asked about summer plans, D’Alimonte’s garage door, and if it was her intention to play music and fill the streets with the beautiful music.

D’Alimonte said plans for the summer were to incorporate what they did last year; they added to open air by having live music off their front stage; she mentioned plans to host an open mic night and this year do it from their stage as well as one weekend near the town clock and stage.

Councillor Courtney also thanked D’Alimonte and asked about the spike in revenues she said she noticed. D’Alimonte repeated the 151.9%. Courtney asked if she attributed that strictly to the open air, the closing of the streets for generating that profit? D’Alimonte said she did.

D’Alimonte agreed with Courtney that she was fortunate to be in the footprint of open air and very grateful for the opportunity.

Listen to the audio.