The Summer Spaces initiative thrived on Main Street yesterday despite wet weather.
Market 1886 organizer Michelle Arthur, who runs the event, says pedestrians are flocking to the car-free blocks because of a concerted effort to offer programming.
"We have a lot of really interesting things happening that are programmed in like a safety rodeo for kids and presentations from Fort Langley," she said.
The Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area also decided to have the small road closures alternate between three sites to accommodate businesses.
So far, area shops have reported up to a 150 per cent increase in business, according to Arthur.
Christine Huynh, a barista at Cuppa Joe Coffee at the corner of Broadway and Main Street, said she hadn't noticed a substantial increase in foot traffic.
"I don't think people really go out of their way to come down here and take a look," she said.
The impact of the Summer Spaces program on Commercial Drive, which occupied the same eight blocks between 1st Avenue and Venables Street, without regular programming, was more dire.
Longtime Commercial Drive resident Eileen Mosca said unrest from various quarters of the community, including area businesses and seniors shut out of a community centre by transit closures, caused organizers to rethink the initiative.
"My sentiment is, 'OK guys you gave it a good try,' now maybe scale back to a couple of Sundays where something actually happens," she said.
