Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-08-30
Tourist Business Is An
Important Development
SURVEY OF AMIGO BUSINESS
PLACES SHOWS THAT IT HAS
DEVELOPED MUCH

The great value of the tourist bust
ness to Amigo and its merchants is
indicated by a hasty and incomplete,
but representative survey made today
by member of the Journal staff No
effort was made to visit every bust
ness place, but sufficient number of
businessmen were interviewed to
serve as a reliable index.
Garages, as might be expected, get
a large share OF the money spent here
by tourists. One proprietor, whose
place is well situated, said fifty per
cent of his business during the sea-
son is tourist business, and that for
some time past he has averaged %
cars stored each night Another gar
age man reported rs per cent tourist
business and a good mail order bust
ness on parts. A third said he did
little storage business, but that about
40 per cent of his oil and gasoline
business came from tourists.
A gasoline and oil station estimates
that at least half of its business is
tourist business during the automo-
bile touring season. More local cars
call but tourists usually buy in larger
quantities.
One tire dealer said that tourist
trade was about S5 per cent Of the
total Another stated that during June
and July about % per cent Of his
sales and s5 per cent of his repair
business came from tourists. On some
days practically all of the business is
provided by tourists.
Seventy five per cent of the bust
ness Of one Amigo hotel during. the
summer is tourist business. Night
after night it has been necessary to
send the overflow to other hotels or
private homes. The patronage of
travelling statesmen falls off heavily In
the summer and becomes a minor
item Another hotel man estimated so
per cent of his business was provided
by automobile parties.
A popular restaurant has, it is es-
timated, IS per cent tourist trade
Groceries conveniently located t,
the main routes of travel report that
tourist trade is a considerable item
in season. They buy principally nation
ally advertised goods fresh fruit. and
such other provisions as they need
such other provisions sthey need
for the camp commissary. Two cream
| cries reported considerable tourist
call for butter and cream.
One meat market proprietor said
| that 40. per cent of his summer bust
ness comes from tourist and owners
of summer homes who come here to
do trading. Some come from Eagle
River about once a week to stock up
on provisions. Package goods, salmon
olives, pickles, as well as meats, enjoy
a good sale to this class of trade.
The owner of popular CONNECTION
cry said today that automobile parties
furnish from rs to 40 per cent Of his
summer business, which is the best
this year that it ever has been.
A local fruit store has good tour
sit trade, estimated at 80 per cent on
some days
Excellent demand for Indian bas-
kets, moccasins, etc. particularly of
the better grades, is reported by
firm dealing in notions.
Two hardware stores have had
fine business in fishing tackle and
other sporting equipment. Much Of the
demand is for cooking utensils, Their
mos bottles and various articles of
camp equipment. One store conserva-
lively estimates its tourist business at
from 81 900 to $1,000 annually.
Clothing stores have had fairly
good demand for khaki clothing, flan
mel shirts, sweaters and other outing
garments. One merchant said this
business had exceeded expectations
and was better than during the last
season.
Even shoe stores share in the tour
ist trade. Sporting shoes and high
boots are mostly in demand but occa
sionally other kinds of footwear are
sold.
A store dealing in assorted merchan
disc at low prices estimated transient
business OF 20 per cent and an espec
tally good demand for hosiery. An
other similar store reported good
call for toilet articles.
One druggist said tourists buy
everything in the store" Another
said he did a good business with them
in Photographic film, tooth pastes. toll
ct articles. post cards, cigars and
cigarettes.-Antigo Journal.
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